Uniform asymptotic methods for integrals

We give an overview of basic methods that can be used for obtaining asymptotic expansions of integrals: Watson’s lemma, Laplace’s method, the saddle point method, and the method of stationary phase. Certain developments in the field of asymptotic analysis will be compared with De Bruijn’s book Asymptotic Methods in Analysis. The classical methods can be modified for obtaining expansions that hold uniformly with respect to additional parameters. We give an overview of examples in which special functions, such as the complementary error function, Airy functions, and Bessel functions, are used as approximations in uniform asymptotic expansions.     

Numerical algorithms for uniform Airy-type asymptotic expansions

Airy-type asymptotic representations of a class of special functions are considered from a numerical point of view. It is well known that the evaluation of the coefficients of the asymptotic series near the transition point is a difficult problem. We discuss two methods for computing the asymptotic series. One method is based on expanding the coefficients of the asymptotic series in Maclaurin series. In the second method we consider auxiliary functions that can be computed more efficiently than the coefficients in the first method, and we do not need the tabulation of many coefficients. The methods are quite general, but the paper concentrates on Bessel functions, in particular on the differential equation of the Bessel functions, which has a turning point character when order and argument of the Bessel functions are equal.     

Computing Complex Airy Functions by Numerical Quadrature

Integral representations are considered of solutions of the Airy differential equation w –zw=0 for computing Airy functions for complex values of z. In a first method contour integral representations of the Airy functions are written as non-oscillating integrals for obtaining stable representations, which are evaluated by the trapezoidal rule. In a second method an integral representation is evaluated by using generalized Gauss–Laguerre quadrature; this approach provides a fast method for computing Airy functions to a predetermined accuracy. Comparisons are made with well-known algorithms of Amos, designed for computing Bessel functions of complex argument. Several discrepancies with Amos' code are detected, and it is pointed out for which regions of the complex plane Amos' code is less accurate than the quadrature algorithms. Hints are given in order to build reliable software for complex Airy functions.     

Indefinite integrals of quotients of special functions

A new method is presented for deriving indefinite integrals involving quotients of special functions. The method combines an integration formula given previously with the recursion relations obeyed by the function. Some additional results are presented using an elementary method, here called reciprocation, which can also be used in combination with the new method to obtain additional quotient integrals. Sample results are given here for Bessel functions, Airy functions, associated Legendre functions and the three complete elliptic integrals. All results given have been numerically checked with Mathematica.     

Numerical approximation of vector-valued highly oscillatory integrals

We present a method for the efficient approximation of integrals with highly oscillatory vector-valued kernels, such as integrals involving Airy functions or Bessel functions. We construct a vector-valued version of the asymptotic expansion, which allows us to determine the asymptotic order of a Levin-type method. Levin-type methods are constructed using collocation, and choosing a basis based on the asymptotic expansion results in an approximation with significantly higher asymptotic order. AMS subject classification (2000)  65D30     

Maslov’s canonical operator,Hörmander’s formula,and localization of the Berry-Balazs solution in the theory of wave beams

For three-dimensional Schrödinger equations, we study how to localize exact solutions represented as the product of an Airy function (Berry-Balazs solutions) and a Bessel function and known as Airy-Bessel beams in the paraxial approximation in optics. For this, we represent such solutions in the form of Maslov’s canonical operator acting on compactly supported functions on special Lagrangian manifolds. We then use a result due to Hörmander, which permits using the formula for the commutation of a pseudodifferential operator with Maslov’s canonical operator to “move” the compactly supported amplitudes outside the canonical operator and thus obtain effective formulas preserving the structure based on the Airy and Bessel functions. We discuss the influence of dispersion effects on the obtained solutions.     

轴对称圆环壳的一个新解

指出了现有渐近解的不足之处.本文统一用广义Airy函数表示齐解和非齐特解的完全渐近展开,而现有的渐近解是用Besel或Airy函数表示齐解,用Lommer函数表示非齐特解的.本文所得到的新解是全域一致有效的,达到了薄壳的理论精度,且齐解和特解之间满足变动参数关系.事实上,本文给出了三个特解,其中之一正好与Tumarkin(1959)和Clark(1963)的解相同.     

Convergent Expansions for Solutions of Linear Ordinary Differential Equations Having a Simple Turning Point, with an Application to Bessel Functions

Second-order linear ordinary differential equations with a large parameter u are examined. Classic asymptotic expansions involving Airy functions are applicable for the case where the argument z lies in complex domain containing a simple turning point. In this article, such asymptotic expansions are converted into convergent series, where u appears in an inverse factorial, rather than an inverse power. The domain of convergence of the new expansions is rigorously established and is found to be an unbounded domain containing the turning point. The theory is then applied to obtain convergent expansions for Bessel functions of complex argument and large positive order.     

On an identity for zeros of Bessel functions

In this paper our aim is to present an elementary proof of an identity of Calogero concerning the zeros of Bessel functions of the first kind. Moreover, by using our elementary approach we present a new identity for the zeros of Bessel functions of the first kind, which in particular reduces to some other new identities. We also show that our method can be applied for the zeros of other special functions, like Struve functions of the first kind, and modified Bessel functions of the second kind.     

Asymptotic solutions of inhomogeneous differential equations having a turning point

Asymptotic solutions are derived for inhomogeneous differential equations having a large real or complex parameter and a simple turning point. They involve Scorer functions and three slowly varying analytic coefficient functions. The asymptotic approximations are uniformly valid for unbounded complex values of the argument, and are applied to inhomogeneous Airy equations having polynomial and exponential forcing terms. Error bounds are available for all approximations, including new simple ones for the well-known asymptotic expansions of Scorer functions of large complex argument.     

Integrable operators and the squares of Hankel operators

Integrable operators arise in random matrix theory, where they describe the asymptotic eigenvalue distribution of large self-adjoint random matrices from the generalized unitary ensembles. This paper gives sufficient conditions for an integrable operator to be the square of a Hankel operator, and applies the condition to the Airy, associated Laguerre, modified Bessel and Whittaker functions.     

Luigi Gatteschi’s work on asymptotics of special functions and their zeros

A good portion of Gatteschi’s research publications—about 65%—is devoted to asymptotics of special functions and their zeros. Most prominently among the special functions studied figure classical orthogonal polynomials, notably Jacobi polynomials and their special cases, Laguerre polynomials, and Hermite polynomials by implication. Other important classes of special functions dealt with are Bessel functions of the first and second kind, Airy functions, and confluent hypergeometric functions, both in Tricomi’s and Whittaker’s form. This work is reviewed here, and organized along methodological lines.     

Indefinite integrals of Lommel functions from an inhomogeneous Euler–Lagrange method

A method given recently for deriving indefinite integrals of special functions which satisfy homogeneous second-order linear differential equations has been extended to include functions which obey inhomogeneous equations. The extended method has been applied to derive indefinite integrals for the Lommel functions, which obey an inhomogeneous Bessel equation. The method allows integrals to be derived for the inhomogeneous equation in a manner which closely parallels the homogeneous case, and a number of new Lommel integrals are derived which have well-known Bessel analogues. Results will be presented separately for other special functions which obey inhomogeneous second-order linear equations.     

Close‐to‐convexity of normalized Dini functions

In this paper necessary and sufficient conditions are deduced for the close‐to‐convexity of some special combinations of Bessel functions of the first kind and their derivatives by using a result of Shah and Trimble about transcendental entire functions with univalent derivatives and some newly discovered Mittag–Leffler expansions for Bessel functions of the first kind.     

Indefinite integrals of products of special functions

A method is given for deriving indefinite integrals involving squares and other products of functions which are solutions of second-order linear differential equations. Several variations of the method are presented, which applies directly to functions which obey homogeneous differential equations. However, functions which obey inhomogeneous equations can be incorporated into the products and examples are given of integrals involving products of Bessel functions combined with Lommel, Anger and Weber functions. Many new integrals are derived for a selection of special functions, including Bessel functions, associated Legendre functions, and elliptic integrals. A number of integrals of products of Gauss hypergeometric functions are also presented, which seem to be the first integrals of this type. All results presented have been numerically checked with Mathematica.     

New Asymptotics for the Zeros of Whittaker's Functions

Uniform asymptotic representations for the zeros of the Whittaker functions M _,(z) and W _,(z) are derived from well-known uniform asymptotic expansions. The approximation formulas involve the zeros of Bessel or Airy functions.     

Bessel functions associated with representations of formally real Jordan algebras

We study Bessel functions on the symmetric cone associated with a special formally real Jordan algebra. We extend the classical results of radial Fourier analysis and we prove an asymptotic formula.     

Indefinite integrals of special functions from inhomogeneous differential equations

A method is presented for deriving integrals of special functions which obey inhomogeneous second-order linear differential equations. Inhomogeneous equations are readily derived for functions satisfying second-order homogeneous equations. Sample results are derived for Bessel functions, parabolic cylinder functions, Gauss hypergeometric functions and the six classical orthogonal polynomials. For the orthogonal polynomials the method gives indefinite integrals which reduce to the usual orthogonality conditions on the usual orthogonality intervals. These indefinite integrals for the orthogonal polynomials appear to be new. All results have been checked with Mathematica.     

Strong asymptotics of the recurrence coefficients of orthogonal polynomials associated to the generalized Jacobi weight

We study asymptotics of the recurrence coefficients of orthogonal polynomials associated to the generalized Jacobi weight, which is a weight function with a finite number of algebraic singularities on [−1,1]. The recurrence coefficients can be written in terms of the solution of the corresponding Riemann–Hilbert (RH) problem for orthogonal polynomials. Using the steepest descent method of Deift and Zhou, we analyze the RH problem, and obtain complete asymptotic expansions of the recurrence coefficients. We will determine explicitly the order 1/n terms in the expansions. A critical step in the analysis of the RH problem will be the local analysis around the algebraic singularities, for which we use Bessel functions of appropriate order. In addition, the RH approach gives us also strong asymptotics of the orthogonal polynomials near the algebraic singularities in terms of Bessel functions.     

Large degree asymptotics of generalized Bessel polynomials

Asymptotic expansions are given for large values of n of the generalized Bessel polynomials . The analysis is based on integrals that follow from the generating functions of the polynomials. A new simple expansion is given that is valid outside a compact neighborhood of the origin in the z-plane. New forms of expansions in terms of elementary functions valid in sectors not containing the turning points z=±i/n are derived, and a new expansion in terms of modified Bessel functions is given. Earlier asymptotic expansions of the generalized Bessel polynomials by Wong and Zhang (1997) and Dunster (2001) are discussed.