Digital Library of Mathematical Functions
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15 Hypergeometric FunctionProperties

§15.6 Integral Representations

The function \mathop{\mathbf{F}\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,b;c;z\right) (not \mathop{F\/}\nolimits\!\left(a,b;c;z\right)) has the following integral representations:

These representations are valid when |\mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits\!\left(1-z\right)|<\pi, except (15.6.6) which holds for |\mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits\!\left(-z\right)|<\pi. In all cases the integrands are continuous functions of t on the integration paths, except possibly at the endpoints. In addition:

In (15.6.1) all functions in the integrand assume their principal values.

In (15.6.2) the point \ifrac{1}{z} lies outside the integration contour, t^{{b-1}} and (t-1)^{{c-b-1}} assume their principal values where the contour cuts the interval (1,\infty), and (1-zt)^{a}=1 at t=0.

In (15.6.3) the point \ifrac{1}{(z-1)} lies outside the integration contour, the contour cuts the real axis between t=-1 and 0, at which point \mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits t=\pi and \mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits\!\left(1+t\right)=0.

In (15.6.4) the point \ifrac{1}{z} lies outside the integration contour, and at the point where the contour cuts the negative real axis \mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits t=\pi and \mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits\!\left(1-t\right)=0.

In (15.6.5) the integration contour starts and terminates at a point A on the real axis between 0 and 1. It encircles t=0 and t=1 once in the positive direction, and then once in the negative direction. See Figure 15.6.1. At the starting point \mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits t and \mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits\!\left(1-t\right) are zero. If desired, and as in Figure 5.12.3, the upper integration limit in (15.6.5) can be replaced by (1+,0+,1-,0-). However, this reverses the direction of the integration contour, and in consequence (15.6.5) would need to be multiplied by −1.

In (15.6.6) the integration contour separates the poles of \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(a+t\right) and \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(b+t\right) from those of \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(-t\right), and (-z)^{t} has its principal value.

In (15.6.7) the integration contour separates the poles of \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(a+t\right) and \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(b+t\right) from those of \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(c-a-b-t\right) and \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(-t\right), and (1-z)^{t} has its principal value.

In each of (15.6.8) and (15.6.9) all functions in the integrand assume their principal values.

See accompanying text
Figure 15.6.1: t-plane. Contour of integration in (15.6.5). Magnify