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Now we fix an ultrafilter of $\mathbb{N}$ that contains the cofinite filter, consider a hyperreal field ${}^{*}\mathbb{R}$. Let $\varepsilon$ be a positive infinitesimal. We doubt that a power series field $\mathbb{R}((X))$ can be realized as a subquotient of ${}^{*}\mathbb{R}$.

In Measure, integration and elements of harmonic analysis on generalized loop spaces , Fesenko explained this in Remark 7.1. However, the meaning of some words appears unclear. For example, what does the phrase "the fraction field of approachable polynomials $\mathbb{R}[X]^{\rm ap}$'' mean? Acording to the above paper, there exists a surjective homomorphism $\mathrm{Frac}(\mathbb{R}[X]^{\rm ap})\longrightarrow \mathbb{R}((X));\varepsilon \longmapsto X$.

If you know the answer or have any idea, please tell us.

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Let $A$ denote the convex subring of hyperreal numbers $y$ for which there exists an $n \in \mathbb{N}$ with $-\varepsilon^{-n}<y<\varepsilon^{-n}$. This has the set $\mathfrak{m}$ of numbers $z$ with $-\varepsilon^n<z<\varepsilon^n$ for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$ as a maximal ideal.

Since $A$ (and $\mathfrak{m}$) is convex, the quotient field $A / \mathfrak{m}$ has an induced ordering from that of ${}^{*}\mathbb{R}$, whereby $y+\mathfrak{m}$ is strictly positive if $y>\mathfrak{m}$.

Write $\overline{\varepsilon}:=\varepsilon+\mathfrak{m}$ in the quotient field. Then for every power series $f=\sum \limits_{k \in \mathbb{z}} f_k X^k \in \mathbb{R}((X))$, the sequence $(\sum \limits_{k<n} f_k \overline{\varepsilon}^k)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ has a unique limit $f(\overline{\varepsilon})$.

The unicity of that limit is by definition of $\mathfrak{m}$, since any two limits have their difference smaller than all $\overline{\varepsilon}^n,n \in \mathbb{N}$, and must thus be equal.

The existence follows from the fact that ${}^{*}\mathbb{R}$ is $\aleph_1$-saturated as an ordered field, so there is a $z \in {}^{*}\mathbb{R}$ satisfying the conditions expressing that $|z-\sum \limits_{k\leq n} f_k \varepsilon^k|<\varepsilon^n$ for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$, and for any such $z$, we see that $z+\mathfrak{m}$ is the corresponding limit.

You can check that $\mathbb{R}((X)) \longrightarrow A / \mathfrak{m}:f \mapsto f(\overline{\varepsilon})$ is an embedding of ordered fields.


Incidently, this subquotient can also be realized, in a non-canonical way, as a subfield of ${}^{*}\mathbb{R}$, again using $\aleph_1$-saturation and the fact that each power series is determined by a cut over a countable subset of power series.

More precisely, given an intermediate field $K$ with $\mathbb{R}(X) \subseteq K \subset \mathbb{R}((X))$, an ordered field embedding $\Psi: K \rightarrow {}^{*}\mathbb{R}$ over $\mathbb{R}$ with $\Psi(X)=\varepsilon$, and a $y \in \mathbb{R}((X)) \setminus K$, the embedding $\Psi$ can be extended to $K(y)$. There are two cases: if $y$ is algebraic over $K$, then $y$ is the $n$-th root of its minimal polynomial over $K$ in the real closure of $K$, for some $n$, and it has to be sent to the $n$-th root of that same polynomial in ${}^{*}\mathbb{R}$ (which is a real-closed field). Otherwise, the element $y$ is unique to satisfy $L<y<R$ for some countable subsets $L,R$ of $\mathbb{R}(X)$, and any $z \in {}^{*}\mathbb{R}$ with $\Psi(L)<z<\Psi(R)$ (exists by saturation) will allow one to extend $\Psi$ with $\Psi(y):=z$.

Using this and some choice (choosing each non-algebraic $z$ + a well-ordering of $\mathbb{R}((X)) \setminus \mathbb{R}(X)$), one can define an embedding $\mathbb{R}((X)) \longrightarrow {}^{*}\mathbb{R}$. But there does not seem to be a canonical way to do so because both types of choice involved require (I think) some form of axiom of choice.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank for your answer. I am interested in your last comment. You suggested that $\mathbb{R}((X))$ can be regarded as a subfield of hyperreal field by a non-canonical way. I would like a detailed explanation of "non-canonical way". $\endgroup$
    – M masa
    Commented Oct 13, 2022 at 10:55
  • $\begingroup$ @Mmasa I edited my answer to address this, at least partially. $\endgroup$
    – nombre
    Commented Oct 13, 2022 at 20:33

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