Consider the iterated function $f^t(z)=f(f(f(...f(z))...))$ where $t \in \mathbb Z$ and $f(z)$ is convergent. Then the iterates of $f(z)$ such as $f^2(z), f^3(z), f^4(z)$ are convergent. Now let $r \in \mathbb Q$ and $s \in \mathbb N$ where $r \times s = t$ and $h(z) = f^r(z)$. Then $h^s(z)=f^t(z)$. Does the convergence of $h^s(z)$ imply the convergence of $h(z)$. I want to prove that the convergence of $f(z)$ implies the convergence of $f^t(z)$. 


Background
==========


Let $f(z)$ and $g(z)$ be holomorphic functions, then the Bell polynomials can be constructed using Faa Di Bruno's formula. 


$D^nf(g(z))=$
 $\sum\_{\pi(n)} \frac{n!}{k\_1! \cdots k\_n!} $
$(D^kf)(g(z))$
$\left(\frac{Dg(z)}{1!}\right)^{k\_1} $
$ \cdots \left(\frac{D^ng(z)}{n!}\right)^{k\_n}$


A partition of $n$ is $\pi(n)$, usually denoted by $1^{k\_1}2^{k\_2}\cdots n^{k\_n}$ with $k\_1+2k\_2+ \cdots nk\_n=k$; where $k\_i$ is the number of parts of size $i$. The partition function $p(n)$ is a decategorized version of $\pi(n)$, the function $\pi(n)$ enumerates the integer partitions of $n$, while $p(n)$ is the cardinality of the enumeration of $\pi(n)$.


Setting $g(z) = f^{t-1}(z)$ results in


$D^n f^t(z) = \sum\_{\pi(n)} \frac{n!}{k\_1! \cdots k\_n!} $
$(D^k f)(f^{t-1}(z))$
$\left(\frac{Df^{t-1}(z)}{1!}\right)^{k\_1} $
$ \cdots \left(\frac{D^n f^{t-1}(z)}{n!}\right)^{k\_n}$


The Taylors series of $f^t(z)$ is derived by evaluating
the derivatives of the iterated function at a fixed point 
$f^t(0)$ by setting $z=0$ and separating out the $k\_n$ 
term of the summation that is dependent on $D^n f^{t-1}(0)$.


$D^n f^t(0) = \sum \frac{n!(D^k f)(0)}{k\_1! \cdots k\_{n-1}!} $
$\left(\frac{Df^{t-1}(0)}{1!}\right)^{k\_1} \cdots $
$\left(\frac{D^n f^{t-1}(0)}{(n-1)!}\right)^{k\_{n-1}} $
$ + (D f)(0) D^n f^{t-1}(0)$


The remaining $p(n)-1$ terms of the summation are only dependent on $D^k f^{t-1}(0)$, where $0<k<n$.


**Complex Ackermann Function**


So for tetration and the Ackermann function in general, the problem of extending them to the complex numbers can be simply reduced to the problem of continuous iteration of functions. The problem of continuous iteration of functions is solved by taking the Taylor series $f^t(z)=\sum\_{j=1}^\infty D^j f^t(0) z^j$ 


Let $f(z) \equiv a \rightarrow z \rightarrow k$.


**Theorem. When $f^t(z)$ where $t \in \mathbb{C}$ is defined, then
 $ a \rightarrow b \rightarrow k+1 $ where $a,b \in \mathbb{C}$ and $k \in \mathbb{N}$.** 



> 
> \begin{eqnarray}
>  f(1) &=& a \rightarrow 1 \rightarrow k = a\\
>  f^2(1) &=& f(a) = a \rightarrow a \rightarrow k = a \rightarrow 2 \rightarrow k+1\\
>  f^3(1) &=& f(a \rightarrow a \rightarrow k) = a \rightarrow (a \rightarrow a \rightarrow k) \rightarrow k = a \rightarrow 3 \rightarrow k+1\\
>  f^t(1) &=& a \rightarrow t \rightarrow k+1 \\
>  \end{eqnarray}
> 
> 
> 


Therefore, when $f^t(z)$ where $t \in \mathbb{C}$ is defined, then
 $ a \rightarrow b \rightarrow k+1 $ where $a,b \in \mathbb{C}$ is defined. $ \bullet $


Convergence
===========


The fractional iterates of functions are not necessarily analytic, the fractional iterates of $e^z-1$ which has a relatively nice expansion only has a zero radius of convergence. But for a complex Ackermann function all that is needed is for $f(1)$ to have a zero radius of convergence. Let $f(z)=a^z$, then the integerial iterates of $a^z$ are convergent. 


Now to tackle the main question, given $g(h(z))$ is convergent, what can be said about the convergence of $g(z)$ and $h(z)$?. Obviously $g(z)=h(z)=\frac{1}{z}$ is a counter-example that if composite of two non-convergent functions are convergent then the individual functions must be convergent. But the given series expansion of $f^t(z)$ has no terms $z^{-k}$ where $k \in \mathbb N$. Consider $r,s$ where $f^r(f^s(z))=f^{r+s}(z)$ and $r+s \in N$, then $f^{r+s}(z)$ is convergent. It would seem odd to me if the convergence of $f^{r+s}(z)$ didn't force the convergence of $f^r(z)$ and $f^s(z)$. 


More specifically, does tetration of real numbers $^xa$ where $a,x \in \mathbb R$ exist? Can tetration of real and complex numbers be proven not to exist? 



Given $g(h(z))$ is convergent, what can be said about the convergence of $g(z)$ and $h(z)$?
If I understand correctly the setting (say $f$ is a germ at $0\in\mathbb C$ of a biholomorphic function), the answer is no in general, but yes generically. The diffeomorphismn $f$ can always be written as the time-$1$ flow $\exp X$ of a **formal** vector field $X$. The set $$T:=\{t\in\mathbb C : \exp (tX)~ \mathrm{converges}\}$$ is a group containing $\mathbb Z$ with the following properties. Let $f'(0)=\exp (2i\pi\lambda)$ for some $\lambda\in\mathbb C$.


1. If $T$ is not discrete then $X$ is holomorphic and $T=\mathbb C$.
2. If $\lambda$ is not real then $T$ is not discrete (generic case, hyperbolic diffeomorphism).
3. If $\lambda$ is irrational then $T$ is not discrete if and only if $f$ is analytically linearizable (Siegel problem, linearizable on a measure-1 set of irrationals thanks to Brjuno condition).
4. If $\lambda$ is rational then either $f$ is linearizable (*i.e.* periodic see [here](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/132121), non-generic property) and $T$ is not discrete, or the answer can be read in Écalle-Voronin invariants $\phi$ (a tuple of germs of a biholomorphism) of the parabolic germ $f$ (see also [this question](https://mathoverflow.net/questions/45608) and the self-answer of Will Jagy, and most related questions about smooth/analytic fractional iterates). Namely, $t\in T$ if and only if $\phi(\exp(2i\pi t)h)=\exp(2i\pi t)\phi(h)$. The invariant $\phi$ is **very** hard to compute, though.


