On the definition of higher Gamma functions

Abstract: We generalize our previous new definition of Euler Gamma function to higher Gamma functions. With this unified approach, we characterize Barnes higher Gamma functions, Mellin Gamma functions, Barnes multiple Gamma functions, Jackson $q$-Gamma function, and Nishizawa higher $q$-Gamma functions. This approach extends to more general functional equations. This generalization reveals the multiplicative group structure of solutions of the functional equation that appears as a cocycle equation. We also generalize Barnes hierarchy of higher Gamma function and multiple Gamma functions. In this new approach, Barnes-Hurwitz zeta functions are no longer required for the definition of Barnes multiple Gamma functions. This simplifies the classical definition, without the necessary analytic preliminaries about the meromorphic extension of Barnes-Hurwitz zeta functions, and defines a larger class of Gamma functions. For some algebraic independence conditions on the parameters, we have uniqueness of the solutions, which implies the coincidence of our multiple Gamma functions with Barnes multiple Gamma functions.