Asymptotics And Special Functions

Asymptotics and Special Functions provides a comprehensive introduction to two important topics in classical analysis: asymptotics and special functions. The integrals of a real variable and contour integrals are discussed, along with the Liouville-Green approximation and connection formulas for solutions of differential equations. Differential equations with regular singularities are also considered, with emphasis on hypergeometric and Legendre functions. Comprised of 14 chapters, this volume begins with an introduction to the basic concepts and definitions of asymptotic analysis and special functions, followed by a discussion on asymptotic theories of definite integrals containing a parameter. Contour integrals as well as integrals of a real variable are described. Subsequent chapters deal with the analytic theory of ordinary differential equations; differential equations with regular and irregular singularities; sums and sequences; and connection formulas for solutions of differential equations. The book concludes with an evaluation of methods used in estimating (as opposed to bounding) errors in asymptotic approximations and expansions. This monograph is intended for graduate mathematicians, physicists, and engineers.

Introduction to Asymptotics and Special Functions is a comprehensive introduction to two important topics in classical analysis: asymptotics and special functions. The integrals of a real variable are discussed, along with contour integrals and differential equations with regular and irregular singularities. The Liouville-Green approximation is also considered. Comprised of seven chapters, this volume begins with an overview of the basic concepts and definitions of asymptotic analysis and special functions, followed by a discussion on integrals of a real variable. Contour integrals are then examined, paying particular attention to Laplace integrals with a complex parameter and Bessel functions of large argument and order. Subsequent chapters focus on differential equations having regular and irregular singularities, with emphasis on Legendre functions as well as Bessel and confluent hypergeometric functions. A chapter devoted to the Liouville-Green approximation tackles asymptotic properties with respect to parameters and to the independent variable, eigenvalue problems, and theorems on singular integral equations. This monograph is intended for students needing only an introductory course to asymptotics and special functions.

A classic reference, intended for graduate students mathematicians, physicists, and engineers, this book can be used both as the basis for instructional courses and as a reference tool.

Special functions arise in many problems of pure and applied mathematics, mathematical statistics, physics, and engineering. This book provides an up-to-date overview of numerical methods for computing special functions and discusses when to use these methods depending on the function and the range of parameters. Not only are standard and simple parameter domains considered, but methods valid for large and complex parameters are described as well. The first part of the book (basic methods) covers convergent and divergent series, Chebyshev expansions, numerical quadrature, and recurrence relations. Its focus is on the computation of special functions; however, it is suitable for general numerical courses. Pseudoalgorithms are given to help students write their own algorithms. In addition to these basic tools, the authors discuss other useful and efficient methods, such as methods for computing zeros of special functions, uniform asymptotic expansions, Padé approximations, and sequence transformations. The book also provides specific algorithms for computing several special functions (like Airy functions and parabolic cylinder functions, among others).

Theory and Application of Special Functions contains the proceedings of the Advanced Seminar on Special Functions sponsored by the Mathematics Research Center of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and held from March 31 to April 2, 1975. The seminar tackled the theory and application of special functions and covered topics ranging from the asymptotic estimation of special functions to association schemes and coding theory. Some interesting results, conjectures, and problems are given. Comprised of 13 chapters, this book begins with a survey of computational methods in special functions, followed by a discussion on unsolved problems in the asymptotic estimation of special functions. The reader is then introduced to periodic Bernoulli numbers, summation formulas, and applications; problems and prospects for basic hypergeometric functions; and linear growth models with many types and multidimensional Hahn polynomials. Subsequent chapters explore two-variable analogues of the classical orthogonal polynomials; special functions of matrix and single argument in statistics; and some properties of the determinants of orthogonal polynomials. This monograph is intended primarily for students and practitioners of mathematics.

In this book, expansions of functions in infinite series and infinite product and the asymptotic expansion of functions are discussed. This may be the best reference book on Special Functions.

The subject of this book is the theory of special functions, not considered as a list of functions exhibiting a certain range of properties, but based on the unified study of singularities of second-order ordinary differential equations in the complex domain. The number and characteristics of the singularities serve as a basis for classification of each individual special function. Links between linear special functions (as solutions of linear second-order equations), and non-linear special functions (as solutions of Painlevé equations) are presented as a basic and new result. Many applications to different areas of physics are shown and discussed. The book is written from a practical point of view and will address all those scientists whose work involves applications of mathematical methods. Lecturers, graduate students and researchers will find this a useful text and reference work.