13 Confluent Hypergeometric FunctionsWhittaker Functions

§13.17 Continued Fractions

If κ,μ∈ℂ such that μ±(κ−12)≠−1,−2,−3,…, then

13.17.1 z⁢Mκ,μ⁡(z)Mκ−12,μ+12⁡(z)=1+u1⁢z1+u2⁢z1+⋯,

where

13.17.2 u2⁢n+1 =−12+μ+κ+n(2⁢μ+2⁢n+1)⁢(2⁢μ+2⁢n+2),
u2⁢n =12+μ−κ+n(2⁢μ+2⁢n)⁢(2⁢μ+2⁢n+1).

This continued fraction converges to the meromorphic function of z on the left-hand side for all z∈ℂ. For more details on how a continued fraction converges to a meromorphic function see Jones and Thron (1980).

If κ,μ∈ℂ such that μ+12±(κ+1)≠−1,−2,−3,…, then

13.17.3 Wκ,μ⁡(z)z⁢Wκ−12,μ−12⁡(z)=1+v1/z1+v2/z1+⋯,

where

13.17.4 v2⁢n+1 =12+μ−κ+n,
v2⁢n =12−μ−κ+n.

This continued fraction converges to the meromorphic function of z on the left-hand side throughout the sector |ph⁡z|<π.

See also Cuyt et al. (2008, pp. 336–337).