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16 Generalized Hypergeometric Functions and Meijer G-FunctionGeneralized Hypergeometric Functions

§16.2 Definition and Analytic Properties

Contents

§16.2(i) Generalized Hypergeometric Series

Throughout this chapter it is assumed that none of the bottom parameters b_{1}, b_{2}, \dots, b_{q} is a nonpositive integer, unless stated otherwise. Then formally

Equivalently, the function is denoted by \mathop{{{}_{{p}}F_{{q}}}\/}\nolimits\!\left({\mathbf{a}\atop\mathbf{b}};z\right) or \mathop{{{}_{{p}}F_{{q}}}\/}\nolimits\!\left(\mathbf{a};\mathbf{b};z\right), and sometimes, for brevity, by \mathop{{{}_{{p}}F_{{q}}}\/}\nolimits\!\left(z\right).

§16.2(ii) Case p\leq q

When p\leq q the series (16.2.1) converges for all finite values of z and defines an entire function.

§16.2(iii) Case p=q+1

Suppose first one or more of the top parameters a_{j} is a nonpositive integer. Then the series (16.2.1) terminates and the generalized hypergeometric function is a polynomial in z.

If none of the a_{j} is a nonpositive integer, then the radius of convergence of the series (16.2.1) is 1, and outside the open disk |z|<1 the generalized hypergeometric function is defined by analytic continuation with respect to z. The branch obtained by introducing a cut from 1 to +\infty on the real axis, that is, the branch in the sector |\mathop{\mathrm{ph}\/}\nolimits\!\left(1-z\right)|\leq\pi, is the principal branch (or principal value) of \mathop{{{}_{{q+1}}F_{{q}}}\/}\nolimits\!\left(\mathbf{a};\mathbf{b};z\right); compare §4.2(i). Elsewhere the generalized hypergeometric function is a multivalued function that is analytic except for possible branch points at z=0,1, and \infty. Unless indicated otherwise it is assumed that in the DLMF generalized hypergeometric functions assume their principal values.

On the circle |z|=1 the series (16.2.1) is absolutely convergent if \realpart{\gamma_{q}}>0, convergent except at z=1 if -1<\realpart{\gamma_{q}}\leq 0, and divergent if \realpart{\gamma_{q}}\leq-1, where

§16.2(iv) Case p>q+1

Polynomials

In general the series (16.2.1) diverges for all nonzero values of z. However, when one or more of the top parameters a_{j} is a nonpositive integer the series terminates and the generalized hypergeometric function is a polynomial in z. Note that if -m is the value of the numerically largest a_{j} that is a nonpositive integer, then the identity

can be used to interchange p and q.

Note also that any partial sum of the generalized hypergeometric series can be represented as a generalized hypergeometric function via

Non-Polynomials

See §16.5 for the definition of \mathop{{{}_{{p}}F_{{q}}}\/}\nolimits\!\left(\mathbf{a};\mathbf{b};z\right) as a contour integral when p>q+1 and none of the a_{k} is a nonpositive integer. (However, except where indicated otherwise in the DLMF we assume that when p>q+1 at least one of the a_{k} is a nonpositive integer.)

§16.2(v) Behavior with Respect to Parameters

Let

compare (15.2.2) in the case p=2, q=1. When p\leq q+1 and z is fixed and not a branch point, any branch of \mathop{{{}_{{p}}{\mathbf{F}}_{{q}}}\/}\nolimits\!\left(\mathbf{a};\mathbf{b};%
z\right) is an entire function of each of the parameters a_{1},\dots,a_{p},b_{1},\dots,b_{q}.