Time scale

A time scale is a set $\mathbb{T} \subset \mathbb{R}$ which is closed under the standard topology of $\mathbb{R}$. Given a time scale we define the jump operator $\sigma \colon \mathbb{T} \rightarrow \mathbb{T}$ by the formula $$\sigma(t) := \inf \left\{ x \in \mathbb{T} \colon x > t \right\}.$$ The graininess operator is the function $\mu \colon \mathbb{T} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^+ \cup \{0\}$ is defined by the formula $$\mu(t) := \sigma(t)-t.$$ To every time scale we have a standard differentiation operator and integration operator.

Examples of time scales

1. The real line: $\mathbb{R}$
2. The integers: $\mathbb{Z} = \{\ldots, -1,0,1,\ldots\}$
3. Multiples of integers: $h\mathbb{Z} = \{ht \colon t \in \mathbb{Z}\}$
4. Quantum numbers ($q>1$): $\overline{q^{\mathbb{Z}}}, q>1$
5. Quantum numbers ($q<1$): $\overline{q^{\mathbb{Z}}}, q<1$
6. Harmonic numbers: $\mathbb{H}=\left\{\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^n \dfrac{1}{k} \colon n \in \mathbb{Z}^+ \right\}$
7. The closure of the unit fractions: $\overline{\left\{\dfrac{1}{n} \colon n \in \mathbb{Z}^+\right\}}$
8. Any set $\mathbb{T}=\{\ldots, t_{-1}, t_{0}, t_1, \ldots\}$ of isolated points