13 Confluent Hypergeometric FunctionsKummer Functions

§13.2 Definitions and Basic Properties

Contents
  1. §13.2(i) Differential Equation
  2. §13.2(ii) Analytic Continuation
  3. §13.2(iii) Limiting Forms as z→0
  4. §13.2(iv) Limiting Forms as z→∞
  5. §13.2(v) Numerically Satisfactory Solutions
  6. §13.2(vi) Wronskians
  7. §13.2(vii) Connection Formulas

§13.2(i) Differential Equation

Kummer’s Equation

13.2.1 z⁢d2wdz2+(b−z)⁢dwdz−a⁢w=0.

This equation has a regular singularity at the origin with indices 0 and 1−b, and an irregular singularity at infinity of rank one. It can be regarded as the limiting form of the hypergeometric differential equation (§15.10(i)) that is obtained on replacing z by z/b, letting b→∞, and subsequently replacing the symbol c by b. In effect, the regular singularities of the hypergeometric differential equation at b and ∞ coalesce into an irregular singularity at ∞.

Standard Solutions

The first two standard solutions are:

13.2.2 M⁡(a,b,z)=∑s=0∞(a)s(b)s⁢s!⁢zs=1+ab⁢z+a⁢(a+1)b⁢(b+1)⁢2!⁢z2+⋯,

and

13.2.3 𝐌⁡(a,b,z)=∑s=0∞(a)sΓ⁡(b+s)⁢s!⁢zs,

except that M⁡(a,b,z) does not exist when b is a nonpositive integer. In other cases

The series (13.2.2) and (13.2.3) converge for all z∈ℂ. M⁡(a,b,z) is entire in z and a, and is a meromorphic function of b. 𝐌⁡(a,b,z) is entire in z, a, and b.

Although M⁡(a,b,z) does not exist when b=−n, n=0,1,2,…, many formulas containing M⁡(a,b,z) continue to apply in their limiting form. In particular,

When a=−n, n=0,1,2,…, 𝐌⁡(a,b,z) is a polynomial in z of degree not exceeding n; this is also true of M⁡(a,b,z) provided that b is not a nonpositive integer.

Another standard solution of (13.2.1) is U⁡(a,b,z), which is determined uniquely by the property

13.2.6 U⁡(a,b,z)∼z−a,
z→∞, |ph⁡z|≤32⁢π−δ,

where δ is an arbitrary small positive constant. In general, U⁡(a,b,z) has a branch point at z=0. The principal branch corresponds to the principal value of z−a in (13.2.6), and has a cut in the z-plane along the interval (−∞,0]; compare §4.2(i).

When a=−m, m=0,1,2,…, U⁡(a,b,z) is a polynomial in z of degree m:

13.2.7 U⁡(−m,b,z)=(−1)m⁢(b)m⁢M⁡(−m,b,z)=(−1)m⁢∑s=0m(ms)⁢(b+s)m−s⁢(−z)s.

Similarly, when a−b+1=−n, n=0,1,2,…,

13.2.8 U⁡(a,a+n+1,z)=(−1)n⁢(1−a−n)nza+n⁢M⁡(−n,1−a−n,z)=z−a⁢∑s=0n(ns)⁢(a)s⁢z−s.

When b=n+1, n=0,1,2,…, and a≠0,−1,−2,…,

13.2.9 U⁡(a,n+1,z)=(−1)n+1n!⁢Γ⁡(a−n)⁢∑k=0∞(a)k(n+1)k⁢k!⁢zk⁢(ln⁡z+ψ⁡(a+k)−ψ⁡(1+k)−ψ⁡(n+k+1))+1Γ⁡(a)⁢∑k=1n(k−1)!⁢(1−a+k)n−k(n−k)!⁢z−k.

When b=n+1, n=0,1,2,…, and a=−m, m=0,1,2,…,

13.2.10 U⁡(−m,n+1,z)=(−1)m⁢(n+1)m⁢M⁡(−m,n+1,z)=(−1)m⁢∑s=0m(ms)⁢(n+s+1)m−s⁢(−z)s.

When b=−n, n=0,1,2,…, the following equation can be combined with (13.2.9) and (13.2.10):

13.2.11 U⁡(a,−n,z)=zn+1⁢U⁡(a+n+1,n+2,z).

§13.2(ii) Analytic Continuation

When m∈ℤ,

13.2.12 U⁡(a,b,z⁢e2⁢π⁢i⁢m)=2⁢π⁢i⁢e−π⁢i⁢b⁢m⁢sin⁡(π⁢b⁢m)Γ⁡(1+a−b)⁢sin⁡(π⁢b)⁢𝐌⁡(a,b,z)+e−2⁢π⁢i⁢b⁢m⁢U⁡(a,b,z).

Except when z=0 each branch of U⁡(a,b,z) is entire in a and b. Unless specified otherwise, however, U⁡(a,b,z) is assumed to have its principal value.

§13.2(iii) Limiting Forms as z→0

Next, in cases when a=−n or −n+b−1, where n is a nonnegative integer,

13.2.15 U⁡(−n+b−1,b,z)=(−1)n⁢(2−b)n⁢z1−b+O⁡(z2−b).

In all other cases

13.2.16 U⁡(a,b,z) =Γ⁡(b−1)Γ⁡(a)⁢z1−b+O⁡(z2−ℜ⁡b),
ℜ⁡b≥2, b≠2,
13.2.17 U⁡(a,2,z) =1Γ⁡(a)⁢z−1+O⁡(ln⁡z),
13.2.18 U⁡(a,b,z) =Γ⁡(b−1)Γ⁡(a)⁢z1−b+Γ⁡(1−b)Γ⁡(a−b+1)+O⁡(z2−ℜ⁡b),
1≤ℜ⁡b<2, b≠1,
13.2.19 U⁡(a,1,z) =−1Γ⁡(a)⁢(ln⁡z+ψ⁡(a)+2⁢γ)+O⁡(z⁢ln⁡z),
13.2.20 U⁡(a,b,z) =Γ⁡(1−b)Γ⁡(a−b+1)+O⁡(z1−ℜ⁡b),
0<ℜ⁡b<1,
13.2.21 U⁡(a,0,z) =1Γ⁡(a+1)+O⁡(z⁢ln⁡z),
13.2.22 U⁡(a,b,z) =Γ⁡(1−b)Γ⁡(a−b+1)+O⁡(z),
ℜ⁡b≤0, b≠0.

§13.2(iv) Limiting Forms as z→∞

Except when a=0,−1,… (polynomial cases),

where δ is an arbitrary small positive constant.

For U⁡(a,b,z) see (13.2.6).

§13.2(v) Numerically Satisfactory Solutions

Fundamental pairs of solutions of (13.2.1) that are numerically satisfactory (§2.7(iv)) in the neighborhood of infinity are

13.2.24 U⁡(a,b,z),
ez⁢U⁡(b−a,b,e−π⁢i⁢z),
−12⁢π≤ph⁡z≤32⁢π,
13.2.25 U⁡(a,b,z),
ez⁢U⁡(b−a,b,eπ⁢i⁢z),
−32⁢π≤ph⁡z≤12⁢π.

A fundamental pair of solutions that is numerically satisfactory near the origin is

13.2.26 M⁡(a,b,z),z1−b⁢M⁡(a−b+1,2−b,z),
b∉ℤ.

When b=n+1=1,2,3,…, a fundamental pair that is numerically satisfactory near the origin is M⁡(a,n+1,z) and

13.2.27 ∑k=1nn!⁢(k−1)!(n−k)!⁢(1−a)k⁢z−k−∑k=0∞(a)k(n+1)k⁢k!⁢zk⁢(ln⁡z+ψ⁡(a+k)−ψ⁡(1+k)−ψ⁡(n+k+1)),

if a−n≠0,−1,−2,…, or M⁡(a,n+1,z) and

13.2.28 ∑k=1nn!⁢(k−1)!(n−k)!⁢(1−a)k⁢z−k−∑k=0−a(a)k(n+1)k⁢k!⁢zk⁢(ln⁡z+ψ⁡(1−a−k)−ψ⁡(1+k)−ψ⁡(n+k+1))+(−1)1−a⁢(−a)!⁢∑k=1−a∞(k−1+a)!(n+1)k⁢k!⁢zk,

if a=0,−1,−2,…, or M⁡(a,n+1,z) and

13.2.29 ∑k=an(k−1)!(n−k)!⁢(k−a)!⁢z−k,

if a=1,2,…,n.

When b=−n=0,−1,−2,…, a fundamental pair that is numerically satisfactory near the origin is zn+1⁢M⁡(a+n+1,n+2,z) and

13.2.30 ∑k=1n+1(n+1)!⁢(k−1)!(n−k+1)!⁢(−a−n)k⁢zn−k+1−∑k=0∞(a+n+1)k(n+2)k⁢k!⁢zn+k+1⁢(ln⁡z+ψ⁡(a+n+k+1)−ψ⁡(1+k)−ψ⁡(n+k+2)),

if a≠0,−1,−2,…, or zn+1⁢M⁡(a+n+1,n+2,z) and

13.2.31 ∑k=1n+1(n+1)!⁢(k−1)!(n−k+1)!⁢(−a−n)k⁢zn−k+1−∑k=0−a−n−1(a+n+1)k(n+2)k⁢k!⁢zn+k+1⁢(ln⁡z+ψ⁡(−a−n−k)−ψ⁡(1+k)−ψ⁡(n+k+2))+(−1)n−a⁢(−a−n−1)!⁢∑k=−a−n∞(k+a+n)!(n+2)k⁢k!⁢zn+k+1,

if a=−n−1,−n−2,−n−3,…, or zn+1⁢M⁡(a+n+1,n+2,z) and

13.2.32 ∑k=a+n+1n+1(k−1)!(n−k+1)!⁢(k−a−n−1)!⁢zn−k+1,

if a=0,−1,…,−n.

§13.2(vi) Wronskians

13.2.33 𝒲⁡{𝐌⁡(a,b,z),z1−b⁢𝐌⁡(a−b+1,2−b,z)} =sin⁡(π⁢b)⁢z−b⁢ez/π,
13.2.34 𝒲⁡{𝐌⁡(a,b,z),U⁡(a,b,z)} =−z−b⁢ez/Γ⁡(a),
13.2.35 𝒲⁡{𝐌⁡(a,b,z),ez⁢U⁡(b−a,b,e±π⁢i⁢z)} =e∓b⁢π⁢i⁢z−b⁢ez/Γ⁡(b−a),
13.2.36 𝒲⁡{z1−b⁢𝐌⁡(a−b+1,2−b,z),U⁡(a,b,z)} =−z−b⁢ez/Γ⁡(a−b+1),
13.2.37 𝒲⁡{z1−b⁢𝐌⁡(a−b+1,2−b,z),ez⁢U⁡(b−a,b,e±π⁢i⁢z)} =−z−b⁢ez/Γ⁡(1−a),
13.2.38 𝒲⁡{U⁡(a,b,z),ez⁢U⁡(b−a,b,e±π⁢i⁢z)} =e±(a−b)⁢π⁢i⁢z−b⁢ez.

§13.2(vii) Connection Formulas

Kummer’s Transformations

13.2.39 M⁡(a,b,z) =ez⁢M⁡(b−a,b,−z),
13.2.40 U⁡(a,b,z) =z1−b⁢U⁡(a−b+1,2−b,z).

Also, when b is not an integer

13.2.42 U⁡(a,b,z)=Γ⁡(1−b)Γ⁡(a−b+1)⁢M⁡(a,b,z)+Γ⁡(b−1)Γ⁡(a)⁢z1−b⁢M⁡(a−b+1,2−b,z).
13.2.43 2⁢π⁢i⁢e−zΓ⁡(b)⁢Γ⁡(a−b+1)⁢M⁡(b−a,b,z)=eb⁢π⁢i⁢U⁡(a,b,eπ⁢i⁢z)−e−b⁢π⁢i⁢U⁡(a,b,e−π⁢i⁢z),
13.2.44 2⁢π⁢i⁢e−zΓ⁡(a)⁢Γ⁡(a−b+1)⁢U⁡(b−a,b,z)=ea⁢π⁢i⁢U⁡(a,b,eπ⁢i⁢z)−e−a⁢π⁢i⁢U⁡(a,b,e−π⁢i⁢z).