Hypergeometric pFq

Let $p,q \in \{0,1,2,\ldots\}$ and $a_j,b_{\ell} \in \mathbb{R}$ for $j=1,\ldots,p$ and $\ell=1,\ldots,q$. We will use the notation $\vec{a}=\displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^p a_j$ and $\vec{b}=\displaystyle\prod_{\ell=1}^q b_{\ell}$ and we define the notations $$\vec{a}^{\overline{k}} = \displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^p a_j^{\overline{k}},$$ and $$\vec{a}+k = \displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^p (a_j+k),$$ (and similar for $\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}$). Define the generalized hypergeometric function $${}_pF_q(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_p;b_1,\ldots,b_q;t)={}_pF_q(\vec{a};\vec{b};t)=\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}\dfrac{\displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^p a_j^{\overline{k}}}{\displaystyle\prod_{\ell=1}^q b_{\ell}^{\overline{k}}} \dfrac{t^k}{k!}.$$

Convergence

If any of the $a_j$'s is a a nonpositive integer, then the series terminates and is a polynomial.

If any of the $b_{\ell}$'s is a nonpositive integer, the series diverges because of divison by zero.

The remaining convergence of the series can be split into three cases:

Case I: $p<q+1$

Proposition: The series ${}_pF_q$ converges for all $t \in \mathbb{C}$.

Proof: Notice if $t=0$ then the series converges trivially, so suppose $t \neq 0$. We will apply the ratio test. Let $\alpha_k=\dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}t^k}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}k!}$. Then $$\begin{array}{ll} L &= \displaystyle\lim_{k \rightarrow \infty} \left| \dfrac{\alpha_{k+1}}{\alpha_k} \right| \\ &= \displaystyle\lim_{k \rightarrow \infty} \left| \dfrac{\dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}t^k}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}k!}}{\dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k+1}}t^{k+1}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k+1}}(k+1)!}} \right| \\ &= \displaystyle\lim_{k \rightarrow \infty} \left| \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}} \vec{b}^{\overline{k+1}}(k+1)!t^k }{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}} \vec{a}^{\overline{k+1}}k!t^{k+1}} \right| \\ &= \displaystyle\lim_{k \rightarrow \infty} \left| \dfrac{k(\vec{b}+k)}{(\vec{a}+k)t} \right| \\ &= \displaystyle\lim_{k \rightarrow \infty} \left| \dfrac{O(k^{q+1})}{O(k^{p})}\right| \\ &= 0 < 1, \end{array}$$ therefore the series converges for all $t \in \mathbb{C}$. █

Case II: $p=q+1$

Proposition: The series ${}_pF_q$ converges for all $t\in \mathbb{C}$ with $|t|<1$.

Proof: █

Case III: $p>q+1$

Proposition: The series ${}_pF_q$ diverges for all $t \in \mathbb{C}$.

Proof: █

Derivatives

Proposition: Suppose that ${}_pF_q$ converges. Then $$\dfrac{d^n}{dt^n} {}_pF_q(\vec{a};\vec{b};t)=\dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{n}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{n}}} {}_pF_q(\vec{a}+n;\vec{b}+n;t).$$

Proof: The computation $$\begin{array}{ll} \dfrac{d^n}{dt^n} {}_pF_q(\vec{a};\vec{b};t) &= \dfrac{d^n}{dt^n}\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{ \vec{a}^{\overline{k}} }{ \vec{b}^{\overline{k}} } \dfrac{t^{\underline{k}}}{k!} \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=n}^{\infty} \dfrac{ \vec{a}^{\overline{k}} }{ \vec{b}^{\overline{k}} } \dfrac{t^{\underline{k-n}}}{(k-n)!} \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{ \vec{a}^{\overline{k+n}} }{ \vec{b}^{\overline{k+n}} } \dfrac{t^{\underline{k}}}{k!} \\ &=\dfrac{ \vec{a}^{\overline{n}} }{ \vec{b}^{\overline{n}} } \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{ (\vec{a}+n)^{\overline{k}} }{ (\vec{b}+n)^{\overline{k}} } \dfrac{t^{\underline{k}}}{k!} \\ &=\dfrac{ \vec{a}^{\overline{n}} }{ \vec{b}^{\overline{n}} } {}_pF_q(\vec{a}+n;\vec{b}+n;t) \end{array}$$ proves the claim. █

Proposition: Suppose that ${}_pF_q$ converges. Then $$\dfrac{d^n}{dt^n} \left[ t^{\gamma} {}_pF_q(\vec{a};\vec{b};t) \right] = (\gamma-n+1)^{\overline{n}}t^{\gamma-n} {}_{p+1}F_{q+1}(\gamma+1,\vec{a};\gamma+1-n,\vec{b};t).$$

Proof: First we suppose $n=0$ yielding the formula $$\begin{array}{ll} t^{\gamma}{}_pF_q(\vec{a};\vec{b};t) &= t^{\gamma-n} \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}}{\vec{b}} \dfrac{t^k}{k!} \\ &= t^{\gamma-n} \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{(\gamma+1)\vec{a}}{(\gamma+1)\vec{b}}\dfrac{t^k}{k!} \\ &= t^{\gamma-n} {}_{p+1}F_{q+1}(\gamma+1,\vec{a};\gamma+1-0,\vec{b};t), \end{array}$$ obeying the formula. Now suppose that the formula is satisfied for $n=1,2,\ldots,N-1$. We will show now that the formula holds for $n=N$: $$\begin{array}{ll} \dfrac{d^{N}}{dt^{N}} \left[ t^{\gamma} {}_pF_q(\vec{a};\vec{b};t)\right] &= \dfrac{d}{dt} \left[ \dfrac{d^{N-1}}{dt^{N-1}} \left[ t^{\gamma} {}_pF_q(\vec{a};\vec{b};t) \right] \right] \\ &=\dfrac{d}{dt} \left[ (\gamma-(N-1)+1)^{\overline{N-1}} t^{\gamma-(N-1)} {}_{p+1}F_{q+1}(\gamma+1,\vec{a};\gamma+1-(N-1),\vec{b};t) \right] \\ &=(\gamma-N+2)^{\overline{N-1}}(\gamma-N+1)t^{\gamma-N}{}_{p+1}F_{q+1}(\gamma+1,\vec{a};\gamma-N+2,\vec{b};t) \\ &\hspace{4pt}+(\gamma-N+2)^{\overline{N-1}}t^{\gamma-N+1}\dfrac{(\gamma+1) \vec{a}}{(\gamma-N+2)\vec{b}} {}_{p+1}F_{q+1} (\gamma+2,\vec{a}+1;\gamma-N+3,\vec{b};t) \\ &= (\gamma-N+2)^{\overline{N-1}} \left\{ (\gamma-N+1)t^{\gamma-N}{}_{p+1}F_{q+1}(\gamma+1;\vec{a};\gamma-N+2,\vec{b};t) \right. \\ &\hspace{4pt}+ \left. t^{\gamma-N+1} \dfrac{(\gamma+1)\vec{a}}{(\gamma-N+2)\vec{b}} {}_{p+1}F_{q+1}(\gamma+2,\vec{a}+1;\gamma-N+3,\vec{b};t) \right\} NEEDSWORK \end{array}$$ █

Differential equation

Define the derivative operator $\vartheta=t \dfrac{d}{dt}$.Then $$\vartheta t^k = t \dfrac{d}{dt} t^k = t(kt^{k-1})=kt^k.$$

Proposition: The operator $\vartheta$ is a linear operator.

Proof: █

Theorem: Define $y(t)={}_pF_q(\vec{a};\vec{b};t)$. Then $y$ satisfies $$(\dagger) \hspace{35pt} \left[ \vartheta \displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^q (\vartheta + b_j-1) - t \displaystyle\prod_{i=1}^p (\vartheta+a_i) \right]y=0.$$

Proof: First compute $$\begin{array}{ll} \left[ t \displaystyle\prod_{i=1}^p (\vartheta+a_i) \right] y(t) &= \left[ t \displaystyle\prod_{i=1}^p (\vartheta + a_i) \right] \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}} \dfrac{t^k}{k!} \\ &= t\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}} \left[ \displaystyle\prod_{i=1}^p (\vartheta + a_i) \right] \dfrac{t^k}{k!} \\ &= t\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}k!} \left[ \displaystyle\prod_{i=1}^p (\vartheta + a_i) \right] t^k \\ &= t\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}} \left[ \displaystyle\prod_{i=1}^p (k+a_i) \right] \dfrac{t^k}{k!} \\ &=t\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{(\vec{a}+k)\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}} \dfrac{t^k}{k!}. \\ \end{array}$$ Now the computation $$\begin{array}{ll} \left[ \vartheta \displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^q (\vartheta + b_j -1) \right]y(t) &= \left[ \vartheta \displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^q (\vartheta+b_j-1) \right]\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}} \dfrac{t^k}{k!} \\ &=\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}k!} \left[ \vartheta \displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^q (\vartheta + b_j -1) \right] t^k \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{k!} \left[ \dfrac{\displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^q (k + b_j -1)}{b^{\overline{k}}} \right] \vartheta t_k \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{k!} \left[ k\displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^q \dfrac{k+b_j-1}{b_j(b_j+1)\ldots(b_j+k-1)} \right] t^k \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{k!} \left[ \displaystyle\prod_{j=1}^q \dfrac{1}{b_j(b_j+1)\ldots(b_j+k-2)} \right] t^k \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k-1}}(k-1)!} t^k \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\vec{a}^{\overline{k+1}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}k!}t^{k+1} \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{(\vec{a}+k)\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}} \dfrac{t^{k+1}}{k!} \\ &= t\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{(\vec{a}+k)\vec{a}^{\overline{k}}}{\vec{b}^{\overline{k}}} \dfrac{t^k}{k!} \\ &= \left[ t \displaystyle\prod_{i=1}^p (\vartheta + a_i) \right] y(t) \end{array}$$ proves the claim. █

Examples

${}_0F_0$

1. ${}_0F_0(;;z)=e^z$

${}_0F_1$

1. ${}_0F_1 \left(;\dfrac{1}{2};-\dfrac{z^2}{4} \right)=\cos(z)$
2. $z{}_0F_1 \left(;\dfrac{3}{2};-\dfrac{z^2}{4} \right)=\sin(z)$

${}_1F_0$

1. ${}_1F_0(-a;;z)=(1-z)^a$

${}_2F_0$

Theorem: The following formula holds: $$y_n(x)={}_2F_0 \left( -n, 1+n;-; -\dfrac{1}{2}x \right),$$ where $y_n(x)$ denotes a Bessel polynomial and ${}_2F_0$ denotes the hypergeometric pFq.

Proof: █

${}_2F_1$

• $z{}_2F_1(1,1;2;-z)=\log(1+z)$
  

Proof: Calculate $$\begin{array}{ll} z{}_2F_1(1,1;2;-z) &= z\displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{1^{\overline{k}}1^{\overline{k}}}{2^{\overline{k}}k!} (-z)^k \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{\left( \frac{\Gamma(k+1)}{\Gamma(1)} \right)^2}{\left( \frac{\Gamma(2+k)}{\Gamma(2)} \right)k!}(-1)^k z^{k+1} \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{(k!)^2(-1)^k}{(k+1)!k!} z^{k+1} \\ &= \displaystyle\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \dfrac{(-1)^k}{k+1} z^{k+1} \\ &= -\displaystyle\sum_{k=1}^{\infty} \dfrac{(-1)^k z^k}{k} \\ &= \log(1+z), \end{array}$$ using a well-known formula for the Taylor series of $\log(1+z)$.

• ${}_2F_1(1,1;2;z)=-\dfrac{\log(1-z)}{z}$
• ${}_2F_1 \left( \dfrac{1}{2}, 1; \dfrac{3}{2}; z^2 \right) = \dfrac{\log \left(\dfrac{1+z}{1-z} \right)}{2z}$
• ${}_2F_1 \left( \dfrac{1}{2},1 ; \dfrac{3}{2};-z^2 \right) = \dfrac{\arctan z}{z}$
• ${}_2F_1 \left( \dfrac{1}{2}, \dfrac{1}{2}; \dfrac{3}{2}; z^2 \right) = \sqrt{1-z^2} {}_2F_1 \left( 1,1;\dfrac{3}{2};z^2 \right)=\dfrac{\arcsin z}{z}$

References

Notes on hypergeometric functions
Rainville's Special Functions
Abramowitz and Stegun