13.

Confluent Hypergeometric Functions

LUCY
JOANSLATEB'

Contents

Page

Mathematical Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13.1. Definitions of Kummer and Whittaker Functions .
13.2. Integral Representations . . . . . . . . . . .
13.3. Connections With Bessel Functions . . . . . . .
13.4. Rkcurrence Relations and DifTerential Properties .
13.5. Asymptotic Expansions and Limiting Forms . . .
13.6. Special Cases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13.7. Zeros and Turning Values . . . . . . . . . . .
Numerical Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13.8. Use and Extension of the Tables . . . .
13.9. Calculation of Zeros and Turning Points .
13.10. Graphing M(a. b. z) . . . . . . . . . .

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504
504
505
506
506
508
509
510

511
511
513
513

References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

514

Table 13.1. Confluent Hypergeometric Function M(a. b. z) . . . . .

Z= . l(.1) l(1) 10. a= -1 (. 1)l. b= . 1 (.l)l, 8s
Table 13.2. Zeros of M(u. b. z) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
~=-1(.1)-.1,
b=.I(.l)I,
7D

516
535

The tables were calculated by the author on the electronic calculator EDSACI in the
Mathematical Laboratory of Cambridge University. by kind permission of its director. Dr .
hl . V . Wilkes. The table of M(a. b. 2) was recomputed by Alfred E . Beam for uniformity
to eight significant figures.

* University Mathematical Laboratory. Cambridge.

N a t i O d Bureau Of StaIldlUdS.)

(Prepared under contract with the

13. Confluent Hypergeometric Functions

Mathematical Properties
13.1. Definitions of Kummer and Whittaker
Functions
Kummer's Equation

13.1.1

?!+(b-z)
dZ

U(a, b, z) is a many-valued function. Its principal branch is given by -r<arg

z 5 r.
Logarithmic Solution

13.1.6

dw
--uw=o
dz

It has aregular singularity at z=O and an irregular

singularity at m .
Independent solutions are

+-(?I-l)!

(a)

z "M(a-n, 1-n,

2)"

I?

for n=OJ 1, 2, . . ., where the last function is the

sum to n terms. It is to be interpreted as zero
when n=O, and ~(a)=I"(a)/I?(a).

Kummer's Function

13.1.2

13.1.7
where

U(a, 1-n, z)=z"U(a+q., l+n, z)

As 9 z + m

(u)~=u(u+~)(u+
. .~.)(u+n-1), (u)~=I,

13.1.8

and

U(a, b, z)=z-"[l+O(l~J-')]
Analytic Continuation

13.1.9

13.1.3

U(a, b, ze*")=-

?r

sin ?rb

e-'

'

M(b-a, b, Z)
(1 +a- b) r (b)

I?

-efrf(l-B) z1-b M(1-a,2--bJ

r (a)r (2- b)
Parameters
(m, n positive integers)

b#-n

a#-m

b#-n

a=-m

b=-n
b=-n
m>n

a#-m
a=-m,

M(a, b, 4
a convergent series for
all values of a, b and z
a polynomial of degree m

Z)

where either upper or lower signs are to be taken

throughout.
13.1.10

in2

a simple pole at b=-n

Alternative Notations

b=-n a=-m,
undefined
m5n
U(a, b, z) is defined even when b+fn
As 1 2 1 + m J
13.1.4
M(a, b,

and
13.1.5

+e-hfbRU(u,
b, z)

z)=m
r (a)e'z"-b[l+O(lzl-l)]

IFl(a;b; z) or @(a;b; z) for M(a, b, z)

z-"2Fo(a,
1 +a-b; ;- l/z) or *(a; b; z) for V(a, b, z)
Complete Solution

13.1.11
(9z>O)

p=AM(a, b, z)+BU(a, b,

Z)

where A and B are arbitrary constants, b#-n.

Eight Solutions

13.1.12 ~,=M(u,
b,

Z)

13.1.13 ys=zl-bM(l+a-b, 2-b,

13.1.14 y,=ezM(b--a, b,

-2)

Z)

505

CONFLUENT HYPERGEOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

13.1.15 y4=z1-bezM(1--a,2-b,

13.1.17 ~ s = ~ ' - ~ U ( l + a - b2-b,

,
13.1.18 y,=e'U(b--a, b,

13.1.34

-2)

Z)

13.1.19 y,=zl-bezU(l--a, 2-4

General Confluent Equation

13.1.35

-2)

w"+[ 2A
-+2j'+--h'-77
bh'

-2)

WmIMkianS

13.1.36

Z-Ae-f(z)M(a,b, h(Z))

13.1.37

Z-Ae-f")U(a, b, h(Z))

W{1, 3}=W{2,4}=W{5,
6}=W{7,8}=0

13.2. Integral Representations

W{1, 5)=-r(b)~-~e~/r(a)
13.2.1

13.1.23 W{1, 7)= r(b)e"~*~-~e~/r(b--a)

W{2, 5) = -r(2 -b)z- "*/r(1 +a- 3)

13.1.25 W{2, 7 = -r(2 -b)z- bez/r(

1 -a)
13.1.26 W(5, 7}=e"f(b-a'
z-* e
13.2.2

Kummer Transformations

13.1.27

M(a, b, z)=e'M(b--a, b,

-2)

13.1.28

13.2.3

~ ' - ~ M ( l + a - b ,2-4 z)=zl-*ezM(l-u, 2-b,

13.1.29 U(a, b, 2)=z1-*U(l+a-6, 2 1 6 ,

-2)

Z)

13.2.4

13.1.30

Whittaker's Equation

13.1.31

%+I-,+-+

A(A-1)

Sohtions:

W{1, 2}=W{3,4}=W{l,4}=-W{2, 3)
= (1 4 ) z - bez
13.1.21

13J.24

h" ]w'

h"

If W{m, n} =y,y~--y,,y&
and
t=sgn ( J z ) = l if .fz>o,
=-1 if Y Z l O
13.1.20

13.1.22

(t-r')],=,
zz

Solutions:
Whittaker's Functions

13.1.32 Mg,,(z)=e-+'z++,M(3+p-N,
1+2p, Z)
13.1.33
Wg.,(Z)=e-W+W(3+p--K, 1 +2p, 2)
(-r<arg
ZIT,
N = + ~ - up=+b-i)
,

13.2.6

13.2.7

9b>Wa>O

506

CONFLUENT HYPERGEOMETRIC FmycmoN8

13.2.8

13.3.7

r (a)~ ( ab,,Z)
= eAzJAm e-z,(,-A)a-'(t+B)b-a-l~t

(A=l-B)

Similar integrals for ME,&) and W#,,,(z) can

be deduced with the help of ..13.1.32'and 13.1.33.
Barnes-typeContour Integrals

13.2.9

for larg (-z)l<)r,

a, b#O, -1, -2, . . . . The
contour must separate the poles of I'(-s) from
those of r(a+s); c is finite.

=e&

13.2.10
1

-2d

c+im

L-t m

for larg z1<2,

3r

r(-8)r(~+~)r(i+a-b+s)z-*ds

a#O, -1,

-2,

. . ., b - a f l ,

2,

3, . . . . The contour must separate the poles of

r(--s) from those of r(a+s) and r(l+a-b+s).

13.3. Connections With b e e l Functions

(see chapters 9 and 10)
Beace1 Functiom M LIrniti- caseo

If b and z are fixed,

13.3.1

h { M ( ab,~z/a)/r(b)}=2*-'1)-1(2m

a+-

13.3.2 lim {M(a,b,-z/a)/r(b)} =z4-'Jb-1(21/z)

a+-

13.3.3

b {r(l+a-b) U(a, b, z/a)}=2z4-'&-1(2a

a+-

13.3.4
lim{l"(l+a-b)U(a, b, -z/a)}
= --xieTibz4-4bH$1(2~ (./z>O)

a+-

13.3.5

-,,.ie-rib&+bHC21
-

n-

where

r(a)r(i+a-b)z"u(a, b, Z)
--

3 C"z"(-~2)'"-"")~b--l+n(2~(--az))

b-1(2&)

E S ~ I ~ OinM
Seriem

13.3.6
M(a, b, z)=e**r(b-~-))(tz)"-~++

O
)<zJ(

Co=l, c,=-bh, c,=-)(2h-l)a+ib(b+l)hZ,

(n+l)Cs+l=[(1 -2h)n--bhJC,
+[(1 -2h)a -h(h -1) (b +n- 1)]Cn-1
-h(h- l)aC,-2
(h real)

where
c,=1, C,(a, b)=2a/b,

Cn+da, b)=2aC,(a+l, b+l)/b-Cs-,(a,

b)

13.4. Recurrence Relations and Merentid

Properties
13.4.1
(b-a)M(a-1, b, z)+(2a-b+z)M(a, b, 2)
-aM(a+l, b, z)=O
13.4.2
b(b-l)M(a, b-1,

z)+b(l-b-z)M(a, b, 2)
+z(b-a)M(a, b+l, z)=O

13.4.3
(l+a-b)M(a, b, 2)-aM(u+l, b, 2)
+(b-l)M(a, b-1,
13.4.4
bM(a, b, 2)-bM(a-1,

z)=O

b, 2)-zM(a, b + l , z)=O

13.4.5
b(a+z)M(a, b, z)+z(a-b)Ai(a, b+l, 2)
--abM(a+l, b, z)=O

13.4.6

13.4.19

(a-l+z)M(a, b, z)+(b-a)M(a-l,
b, 2)
+(1-b)M(a, b-1,
13.4.7

b(l-b+z)M(a,

13.4.9

d"

z)=O

b, z)+b(b-l)M(a-1,

b-1,

-azM(a+l, b + l , z)=O

Z)

(a)"M(a+n, b+n,

Z)

2)

b, z)=(b-a-z)M(a,

b, 2)
+zM'(a, b,

Z)

a(l+a-b)U(a+l, b, z)=aU(a, b,
13.4.24
(l+a-b)U(a, b-1,
13.4.25

2)

13.4.13
(b-l)M(a, 6-1, z)=(b-l)M(a, b,

2)

+zM'(a,

bJ

z,

2)

+zU'@, b,

2)

z)=(l-b)U(a, b, 2)
-zU'(a, b,

2)

U(a, b + l J z)=U(U,b, z)-U'(U, b,

Z)

13.4.26
U(a-1, b, z)=(a-b+z)U(a, b, z)-zU'(a, b,
13.4.27
U(u-1, b-1,

z)=(l--b+z)U(a, b,

2)

2)

-zU'(a, b,

13.4.14

6-1, z)=(b-1-z)M(a, b, 2)
+zM'(aJ

bJ

z,

13.4.15
U(a-1, b, z)+(b-2a-z)U(a, b, 2)
+a(l+a-b)U(a+l,

b, z)=O

13.4.16
b-1,

z)+(l-b-z)U(a, b, 2)
+zU(a, b+l, z)=O

13.4.11
U(a, b, 2)-aU(a+l,

b, 2)-U(a, b-1,

z)=O

13.4.18
(b-a) U(a, b,

U'(U, b, z)=-aU(a+l, b+l,

13.4.23

(b-a)M(a, b + l , z)=bM(a, b, z)-bM'(a, b,

(b--a-l)U(fZ,

13.4.21

z)=O

13.4.22

13.4.12

(b-l)M(u-l,

b, 2)=0

(a+z-l)U(a, b, 2)-U(a-1, b, z)
+(l+a-b)U(a, b-1,

Pi

13.4.10 aM(a+l, b, z)=aM(~,b, z)+zM'(a, b,

(b-a)M(a-1,

(a+z)U(a, b, z)-zU(a, b+l, z)

+a@-a-l)U(a+l,
13.4.20

dz" M(a, b,

13.4.11

507

CONFLUENT HYPERGEOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

2)

+ U(a- 1, b,

2)

-zU(a, b + l , z)=O

2)

508

C0"T

HYPEBGEOMETIUC FUNCI'IONS

13.5.11

(b=O)

13.5.12

~ L Sa

4-m

for b bounded, z real.

where u ie defined in 13.5.13.

aa a+--

for b bounded, x rad.

For large real a, b, x

If cdah' 6 = ~ / ( 2 b - 4 ~ )

80

that ~>2b-U>l,

CONFLUENT HYPERGEOMETRIC F"CM0NB

13.5.21
M(a, b, z)= r(b) exp (b-24 COS* e}
[(b-2~) COSe]'-'[~($b-u) sin m]-+
[sin (ad+sin (+-a)
(2e-sin 2e) +ir)

If z= (2b-&)[l+t/(b--2a)~], so that
Z-2b-4~
13.5.19
M(a, b, z)=e+=(b-2a)'-Or(b)[Ai(t) cos (UT)
+Bi(t) sin (UT) +O(I4b-a I-*)]
13.5.20
U(a, b, z)=e+=+"-+T(+)
T-+&-*
i--tr(~)(bz--2az)-13f~-f+O(l~--al-i)}

13.5.22
U(U,b, ~)=exp[(b-24

C O S ~ B ] [ ( ~ - ~ U ) COS

el1-*

[(3b-U) sin 2e)-*{sin[($&a)

(20- sin 26)+ t TI + O(l 3b--al-') 1

If cos*f?=z/(2b-4~)so that 2b--4a>z>O,

509

13.6. SpeCi.1 Casea

Relation

Function

13.6.1

BeeSel

13.6.2

&See1

13.6.3

Modified Bessel

13.6.4

Spherical Besael

13.6.5

Spherical Besael

13.6.6

Spherical Besael

13.6.7

Kelvin

13.6.8

Coulomb Wave

13.6.9
13.6.10

Incomplete Gamma

13.6.11

Poisson-Charlier

13.6.12

e*

Exponential

13.6.13

Trigonometric

13.6.14

Hyperbolic

13.6.15

Weber

or

13.6.16

Parabolic Cylinder

13.6.17

Hermite

13.6.18

Hermite

13.6.19

Error Integral
*

13.6.20
*See page

11.

Toronto

510

CONFLUENT HYPEROEOMETBIC F"C"I0NS

13.6. Spedrl CuebGntinued
Relation

Function

13.6.B

V+t

2v+ 1

22

Modified Bessel

13.6.22

V+t

2v+ 1

-2ir

Hankel

13.6.23

V+t

2v+ 1

2it

Hankel

13.6.24

n+l

2n+2

2s

Spherical Bessel

13.6.25

42'1'

Airy

13.6.26

n+t

2n+1

Kelvin

13.637

-n

a+1

Lsguem

13.6.28

1--a

1--a

Incomplete Gamma

13.6.29

-2

Exponential Integral

13.6.30

Exponential Integrgl

13.6.31

--In z

Logarithmic Integral

13.6.32

tm-n

l f m

Cunningham

13.6.33

-t V

22

Bateman

13.6.34

iz

Sine and Cosine Integral

13.6.35

-iz

Sine and Cosine Integral

13.6.36

42'

Weber
or
Parabolic Cylinder

a9

Hermite

13.6.39

t
t
t
t

t*

13.6.38

-t V
4-1.
t-tn

39

Error Integral

13.6.37

13.7. &roe and Turning Values

For the derivative,

If jD-l,,
is the r'th positive zero OfJ&l(z), then
a first approximation Xo to the r'th positive zero
of M(a, b, z) is
13.7.1 XO=~:-~,,
1/(2b-4a)+0(1/(3b-u)2)
13.7.2

A closer approximation is given by

13.7.3 Xl=XO-M(a, 6,Xo)/M'(u,b, Xo)

13.7.4

If X
L is the first approximation to a turning value
of M(u, b, z), that is, bo a zero of M'(u, b, z) then
a better approxiniation is

51 1

CONFLUENT HYPERGEOMETRIC FU"I[ONS

The self-adjoint equation 13.1.1 can ala0 be

written
13.7.6
The Sonine-Polya Theorem

The maxima and minima of Iwl form an increasing or decreasing sequence according as

-e-'e-&

is an increasing or decreasing function of z, that is,

they form an increasing sequence for M(a, b, z)
if a>O, z<b-$
or if a<O, z>b-$, and a decreasing sequence if a>O and z>b-3 or if a<O and
z<b-$.
The turning values of Iwl lie near the curves

Numerica1 Methods
13.8. Use and Extension of the Tables
Calculation of M(a, b, x)
Kummer's Transformation

E x m p l e 1. Compute M(.3, .2, -.I) to 7s.

Using 13.1.27 and Tables4.4 and 13.1 we have
a = & b=.2 so that

M(.3, .2, -.1) =e-.'M(-.l, .2, .l)

=.85784 90.
Thus 13.127 can be used to extend Table 13.1 to
negative values of z. Kummer's transformation
should also be used when a and b are large and
nearly equal, for z large or small.
Example2. Compute M(17, 16, 1) to 7s.
Here a=17, b=16, and

M(17, 16, l)=elM(-l, 16, -1)

=2.71828 18X1.06250 00
=2.88817 44.
R e c u r r m a Relations

Example 3. Compute M(--1.3, 1.2, .l) to 7s.

Using 13.4.1 and Table 13.1 we have a=-.3,
b=.2 so that

In this way 13.4.1-13.4.7 can be used together

with 13.1.27 to extend Table 13.1 to the range
-10<a<10,

-10 j b <lo,

-10 <z<10.

This extension of ten units in any direction is

possible with the loss of about 1s. All the recurrence relations are stable except i) if a<O, O
b<
and lal>lbl, z>O, or ii) ba<,
b<O, Ib--al>lbl,
z<O, when the oscillations may become large,
especially if IzI also is large.
Neither interpolation nor the use of recurrence
relations should be attempted in the strips
b=-nf.1 where the function is very large numerically. In particular M(a, b, z) cannot be
evaluated in the neighborhood of the points
a=-m, b=-n, m j n , as near these points
small changes in a, b or z can produce very large
changes in the numerical value of M(a, b, z).
Example 4. At the point (- 1, -1, z),M(u, b, z)
is undefined.
2
When a=-1, M(-1, b, z)=l-afor all 2.
Hence lim M(-1, b,z)=l +z. ButM(b,b,z)=e)
b+-1

for all z, when a=b. .Hence lim M(b, 6, z)=&.

b+-1

M(-1.3, .2, .1)=2[.7 M(-.3, .2, .1) -.3 M(.7, .2, .l)]
=.35821 23.

In the first case b+- 1 along the line a=-1, and

in the second case b+-1 along the line a=b.

By 13.4.5 when a=-1.3 and b= .2,

M(-1.3,1.2, .1)=[.26 M(--3, .2, .l)
-.24 M(--1.3, .2, .1)]/.15
=A9241 08.

Derivatives

Similarly when a=-.3 and b= .2

M(-.3, 1.2, .1)=.97459 52.
Check, by 13.4.6,
M(-1.3, 1.2, .1)=[.2 M(-.3, .2, .l)
4-1.2 M(-.3, 1.2, .1)]/1.5
=A9241 08.

Example 5. To evaluate M'(-.7, -.6, .5) to

7s. By 13.4.8, when a= -.7 and b= -.6, we have
M'(-.7,

-.7
M(.3, .4, .5)
-.6

-.6, .5)=-

=1.724128.
Asymptotic Formulas

For ~ 2 1 0 a, and b small, M(a, b, z) should be

evaluated by 13.5.1 using converging factors
13.5.3 and 13.5.4 to improve the accuracy if
necessary.

512

CONFLUENT HYPERGEOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

Example 6. Calculate M(.9, .l, 10) to 7S,

using 13.5.1.

Hence
U(.1, .2, 1) =5.344799(.371765-.194486)
= .94752.
Similarly
U(-.9, .2, 1)=.91272.
Hence by 13.4.15

=-.198(.869) +1237253(.99190 285)

+ O(1)
= 1227235.23- .17 +O(1)
= 1227235+0(1)
Check, from Table 13.1, M(.9, .l, 10)=1227235.
To evaluate M(a, b, z) with a large, z small and b
small or large 13.5.13-14 should be used.
Example7. Compute M(-52.5, .l, 1) to 3s,
using 13.5.14.

M(-52.5, .l, 1) = r(.l)e-'(.05+52.5).25-.M

.5642 COS [(.2-4( -52.5)) . I - .05r+ .254
11 +0((.05+52.5)-a6)]= -16.34+0(.2)
By direct application of a recurrence relation,
M(-52.5, .l, 1) has been calculated as -16.447.
To evaluate M(a, b, z) with z, a and/or b large,
13.5.17,19 or 21 should be tried.
Example8. Compute M(-52.5, .1, 1) using
13.5.21 to 3s, COS e=24.'
M(-52.5, .l, 1)
-r(.l)e*oJ.l
coa2e 1105.1 COS 8J1-.*.5641

52.55-1 sin 28-1[& (-52.5~)

+sin (52.55(2e-~in 2e)+tr)
+ O((52.55)-')]= -16.47-t O(.02)

U(l.1, 2, l)=[U(.l, .2, l)-U(-.9,

= .38664.

Example 10. To compute U'(-.9, - . 8 , 1) to

5s. By 13.4.21

U'(-.9, -.8, 1)=.9U(.1, .2, 1)

= (.9)(.94752)
=.85276.
Asymptotic Formulae

Example 11. To compute U(1, .l, 100) to 5s.

By 13.5.2
1
19 1929
U(1, .l, 100)=i&j{l-:+:
100 100100

=.01{1-.019+.000551-.000021
+0(10-9)
=.00981 53.

For - 1 0 5 ~ 5 1 0 , - 1 0 5 ~ 5 1 0 , -105b510
this is possible by 13.1.3, using Table 13.1 and the
recurrence relations 13.4.15-20.
Example 9. Compute U(l.1, .2, 1) to 5s.
Using Tables 13.1, 4.12 and 6.1 and 13.1.3, we
have

1,

Example 12. To evaluate V(.l, .2, .01). For

z small, 13.5.612 should be used.
U(.l, .2, .Ol)=

r (1 -.2)
r (1.1 -.2) +O((.01)1- -7

=-+O(
(.01)-7
U.9)
=1.09 to 3S, by 13.5.10.

A full range of asymptotic formulas to cover all

possible cases is not yet known.
Calculation of U(a, b, x)

.2, 1)]/.09

To evaluate U(u, b, z) with a large, z small and

b small or large 13.5.15 or 16 should be used.
To evaluate V(a, b, z) with z, a and/or b large
13.5.18, 20 or 22 should be tried. In all these
cases the size of the remainder term is the guide to
the number of significant figures obtainable.
Calculation of the Whittaker Functiona

U(.1, .2, 1)=

Example 13. Compute M.o.-.4(l)

and W.o,-.4(1)
to 5s. By formulas 13.1.32 and 13.1.33 and
Tables 13.1, 4.4

But M(.9, 1.8, 1)=.8[M(.9, . 8 ,l)-M(-.l,

= 1.72329, using 13.4.4.

.8, l)]

-44.0,

-.,(l) =e-,'M(.l, .2, 1)=1.10622,

W.o.-.,(1) =e-.(U( .1, .2, 1) = .57469.

Thus the values of M..,(z) and W d z ) can

always be found if the values of M(a, b, z) and
U(a, b, z) are known.
13.9. Calculation of Zeros and Turning Points

Ex-Ple
14. a m p u b the smallest POsitive
zero of M(-4, . 6 , ~ > .This is outside the range of
Table 13.2. Using 13.7.2 we have, as a first
approximation

x;=x;[l-

M(-3,.6,Xi)
-3M(-3, .6, Xi)1

=Xi [I-M(-2,1.6,

Xi)/.6M(-3, .6,Xi)]

=.9715)<1.0163=.9873 to 4s.

This process can be repeated to give as many

significant figures as are required.

If we repeat this calculation, we find that

X2=X1+.00002 99=.17852 99 to 7s.

FIGURE13.1.

Figure 13.1 shows the curves on which M(a, 6, z)

=O in the a, b plane when z=1. The function is
positive in the unshaded areas, and negative in the
Examp1e15* Compute the va1ue Of z at which
shaded areas. The number in each square gives
M(-1.8-*2z)has a turningvalue Using13*4*8
the number of real positive zeros of &&, b, z) as a
and Table 13.2, we find that M(-1.8, -.2,2)
function of z in that square. The vertical
=9M(-.8, . 8 , z)=O when x=.94291 59.
boundaries to the left are to be included in each
Also M(-1.8, -.2, z)=9M(-.8, .8, 2)
square.
-9M(.2, 1.8, z) and M(.2, 1.8, .94291 59)>0.
13.10. Graphing M(a, b, x)
Hence M(--1.8, -.2, z) has a maximum in z when
~=.9429159.
Example 17. Sketch M(-4.5, 1, z). Firstly,
Example 16. Compute the smallest positive
from Figure 13.1 we see that the function has
value of x for which M(-3, .6, z) has a turning
five real positive zeros. From 13.5.1, we find
value, Xi. This is outside the range of Table 13.2.
that M+- m , M+- m as x++ m and that
Using 13.4.8 we have
M++m, M++m as z+--.
By 13.7.2 we
have 6s first approximationsto the zeros, .3,1.5,3.7,
M(-3, .6, ~)=-3M(-2, 1.6, ~)/.6.
6.9, 10.6, and by 13.7.2 and 13.4.8 we find as first
approximations to the turning values .9, 2.8, 5.8,
By 13.7.2 for M(-2, 1.6, z),
9.9. From 13.7.7, we see that these must lie near
the curvea
Xo=(1.0!k)2/(11.2)= .9715.
Calculation of Marima and Minima

Thisisafirst approximationto XiforM(-3, .6,z).

Using 13.7.5 and 13.4.8 we find a second approximation

y = f eN(54-t (1 -dl l)%-+.

From these facts we can form a rough graph of

the behavior of the function, Figure 13.2.

514

CONFLUENT HYPERGEOMETRIC F"Cl'I0NS

FIQUF~E
13.2. M(-4.5,

(From F.

1,

2).

Gb2d?'ri, R~m$d;~y&~*&~o~l*
Edblonl.

FIQUBE13.4. M(a, .5,

2).

(Ffom E. J8hnke cmd F. Emde Table8 of hmctlons Dover Publlcatknu,

Inc, New York, fi.Y., 1945, with p m b l o n . )

References
Tcxts

H. Buchholz, Die konfluente hypergeometrische

Funktion (Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany,
1953). On Whittaker functions, with a large
bibliography.
(13.21 A. Erdelyi et al., Higher transcendental functions,
vol. 1, ch. 6 (McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., N e w
York, N.Y., 1953). On Kummer functions.
[13.3] H. Jeffreys and B. 5. Jeffreys, Methods of mathematical physics, ch. 23 (Cambridge Univ. P-,
Cambridge; England, 1950). On Kummer
functions.
[13.4] J. C. P. Miller, Note on the general solutions of the
confluenthypergeometric equation, Math. Tablea
Aids Comp. 9,97-99 (1957).
113.61 L. J. Slater, On the evaluation of the confluent
hypergeometric function, Proc. Cambridge
Philoe. Soc. 49, 612-622 (1953).
[13.11

FIQWE13.3. M(o, 1, z).

(prom E. Jahnke and F Emde Tables of function& Dover Publlatkxu.
ha., New York, &.Y, lM6, with pemmbsbm.)

CONFLUENT HYPERQEOMETBIC FUNCNONS

[13.6] L. J. Slater, The evaluation of the basic confluent
hypergeometric function, Proc. Cambridge
Philos. Soc. 50, 404-413 (1954).
[13.7] L. J. Slater, The real mros of the confluent hypergeometric function, Proc. Cambridge Philos.
Soc. 52, 626-635 (1956).
[13.8] C. A. Swanson and A. Erdhlyi, Asymptotic forms
of confluent hypergeometric functions, Memoir
25, Amer. Math. S o c .(1957).
[13.9] F. G. Tricomi, Funeioni ipergeometriche confluenti
(Edizioni Cremonese, Rome, Italy, 1954). On
Kummer functions.
[13.10] E. T. Whittaker and G. N. Watson, A course of
modern analysis, ch. 16, 4tb ed. (Cembridge
Univ. Press, Cambridge, England, 1952). On
Whittaker functions.
T d h
[13.11] J. R. Airey, The confluent hypergeometricfunction,
British Association Reports, Oxford, 276-294
(1926), and Lee&, 220-244 (1927). M(a, b, z),
~=-4(.5)4, a=*, 1, 3, 2, 3, 4, ~=.1(.1)2(.2)3
(.5)8, 5D.

515

(13.121 J. R. Airey and H. A. Webb, The practical importance of the confluent hypergeometric function,
Phil. Mag. 36, 129-141 (1918). M(a, b, z),
~=-3(.5)4, b=1(1)7, z=1(1)6(2)10, 45.
(13.131 E. Jahnke and F. Emde, Tables of functions, ch. 10,
4th ed. (Dover Publications, Inc., New York,
N.Y., 1945). Graphs of M(a, b, z) based on the
tables of [13.11].
[13.14] P. Nath, Confluent hypergeometric functions,
Sankhya J. Indian Statist. Soc. 11, 153-166
(1951). M(u, b, z), a=1(1)40, b=3,2=.02(.02)
.1(.1)1(1)10(10)50, 100, 200, 6D.
[13.15] 8. Rushton and E. D. Lang, Tables of the confluent
hypergeometric function, Sankhye J, Indian Statist.
So c.13, 369-411 (1954). M(a, b, Z) , a=.5(.5)40,
b= .5(.5)3.5, Z= .02 (.02).1 (.1) 1 (1) 10(10)50, 100,
200, 7s.
[13.16] L. J. Slater, Confluent hypergeometric functions
(Cambridge Univ. Preas, Cambridge, England,
1960). M(u, b, z), ~ = - l ( . l ) l , b=.l(.l)l,
~=.l(.l)lO, 8s; M(u, b, l), ~=-11(.2)2,
b= -4(.2) 1, 85; and smallest positive values of
z for which Mfa, b, z)=O, a=-4(.1)-.l,
b=.1(.1)2.5, 8s.