Successor ordinal

In set theory, the successor of an ordinal number α is the smallest ordinal number greater than α. An ordinal number that is a successor is called a successor ordinal.

Properties

Every ordinal other than 0 is either a successor ordinal or a limit ordinal.

In Von Neumann's model

Using von Neumann's ordinal numbers (the standard model of the ordinals used in set theory), the successor S(α) of an ordinal number α is given by the formula

$S(\alpha) = \alpha \cup \{\alpha\}.$

Since the ordering on the ordinal numbers α < β if and only if α ∈ β, it is immediate that there is no ordinal number between α and S(α), and it is also clear that α < S(α).

Ordinal addition

The successor operation can be used to define ordinal addition rigorously via transfinite recursion as follows:

$\alpha + 0 = \alpha\!$

$\alpha + S(\beta) = S(\alpha + \beta)\!$

and for a limit ordinal λ

$\alpha + \lambda = \bigcup_{\beta < \lambda} (\alpha + \beta)$

In particular, S(α) = α + 1. Multiplication and exponentiation are defined similarly.

Topology

The successor points and zero are the isolated points of the class of ordinal numbers, with respect to the order topology.

See also

• ordinal arithmetic
• limit ordinal
• successor cardinal