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§12.11 Zeros

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§12.11(i) Distribution of Real Zeros

If a\geq-\tfrac{1}{2}, then \mathop{U\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right) has no real zeros. If -\tfrac{3}{2}<a<-\tfrac{1}{2}, then \mathop{U\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right) has no positive real zeros. If -2n-\tfrac{3}{2}<a<-2n+\tfrac{1}{2}, n=1,2,\dots, then \mathop{U\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right) has n positive real zeros. Lastly, when a=-n-\tfrac{1}{2}, n=1,2,\dots (Hermite polynomial case) \mathop{U\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right) has n zeros and they lie in the interval [-2\sqrt{-a},2\sqrt{-a}\,]. For further information on these cases see Dean (1966).

If a>-\tfrac{1}{2}, then \mathop{V\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right) has no positive real zeros, and if a=\tfrac{3}{2}-2n, n\in\Integer, then \mathop{V\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right) has a zero at x=0.

§12.11(ii) Asymptotic Expansions of Large Zeros

When a>-\frac{1}{2}, \mathop{U\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,z\right) has a string of complex zeros that approaches the ray \mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits z=\frac{3}{4}\pi as z\to\infty, and a conjugate string. When a>-\frac{1}{2} the zeros are asymptotically given by z_{{a,s}} and \bar{z}_{{a,s}}, where s is a large positive integer and

with

and

When a=\tfrac{1}{2} these zeros are the same as the zeros of the complementary error function \mathop{\mathrm{erfc}\/}\nolimits(z/\sqrt{2}); compare (12.7.5). Numerical calculations in this case show that z_{{\frac{1}{2},s}} corresponds to the sth zero on the string; compare §7.13(ii).

§12.11(iii) Asymptotic Expansions for Large Parameter

For large negative values of a the real zeros of \mathop{U\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right), {\mathop{U\/}\nolimits^{{\prime}}}\!\left(a,x\right), \mathop{V\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right), and {\mathop{V\/}\nolimits^{{\prime}}}\!\left(a,x\right) can be approximated by reversion of the Airy-type asymptotic expansions of §§12.10(vii) and 12.10(viii). For example, let the sth real zeros of \mathop{U\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right) and {\mathop{U\/}\nolimits^{{\prime}}}\!\left(a,x\right), counted in descending order away from the point z=2\sqrt{-a}, be denoted by u_{{a,s}} and u^{{\prime}}_{{a,s}}, respectively. Then

as \mu (=\sqrt{-2a}) \to\infty, s fixed. Here \alpha=\mu^{{-\frac{4}{3}}}a_{s}, a_{s} denoting the sth negative zero of the function \mathop{\mathrm{Ai}\/}\nolimits (see §9.9(i)). The first two coefficients are given by

12.11.5p_{0}(\zeta)=t(\zeta),

where t(\zeta) is the function inverse to \zeta(t), defined by (12.10.39) (see also (12.10.41)), and

12.11.6p_{1}(\zeta)=\frac{t^{3}-6t}{24(t^{2}-1)^{2}}+\frac{5}{48((t^{2}-1)\zeta^{3})^%
{{\frac{1}{2}}}}.

Similarly, for the zeros of {\mathop{U\/}\nolimits^{{\prime}}}\!\left(a,x\right) we have

where \beta=\mu^{{-\frac{4}{3}}}a^{{\prime}}_{s}, a^{{\prime}}_{s} denoting the sth negative zero of the function {\mathop{\mathrm{Ai}\/}\nolimits^{{\prime}}} and

12.11.8q_{0}(\zeta)=t(\zeta).

For the first zero of \mathop{U\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,x\right) we also have

where the numerical coefficients have been rounded off.

For further information, including associated functions, see Olver (1959).