Cunningham chain

English

Etymology

Named after mathematician A. J. C. Cunningham.

Noun

Cunningham chain (plural Cunningham chains)

1. (mathematics) A certain kind of sequence of prime numbers, with applications in cryptography.
   1. A Cunningham chain of the first kind of length n is a sequence of prime numbers (p₁, ..., p_n) such that for all 1 ≤ i < n, p_i+1 = 2p_i + 1.
   2. A Cunningham chain of the second kind of length n is a sequence of prime numbers (p₁,...,p_n) such that for all 1 ≤ i < n, p_i+1 = 2p_i − 1.