New Series Expansions of the Gauss Hypergeometric Function

The Gauss hypergeometric function ${}_2F_1(a,b,c;z)$ can be computed by using the power series in powers of $z, z/(z-1), 1-z, 1/z, 1/(1-z),(z-1)/z$. With these expansions ${}_2F_1(a,b,c;z)$ is not completely computable for all complex values of $z$. As pointed out in Gil, {\it et al.} [2007, \S2.3], the points $z=e^{\pm i\pi/3}$ are always excluded from the domains of convergence of these expansions. B\"uhring [1987] has given a power series expansion that allows computation at and near these points. But, when $b-a$ is an integer, the coefficients of that expansion become indeterminate and its computation requires a nontrivial limiting process. Moreover, the convergence becomes slower and slower in that case. In this paper we obtain new expansions of the Gauss hypergeometric function in terms of rational functions of $z$ for which the points $z=e^{\pm i\pi/3}$ are well inside their domains of convergence . In addition, these expansion are well defined when $b-a$ is an integer and no limits are needed in that case. Numerical computations show that these expansions converge faster than B\"uhring's expansion for $z$ in the neighborhood of the points $e^{\pm i\pi/3}$, especially when $b-a$ is close to an integer number.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, 4 tables. In Advances in Computational Mathematics, 2012 Second version with corrected typos in equations (18) and (19

Fast computation of the Gauss hypergeometric function with all its parameters complex with application to the Poschl-Teller-Ginocchio potential wave functions

The fast computation of the Gauss hypergeometric function 2F1 with all its parameters complex is a difficult task. Although the 2F1 function verifies numerous analytical properties involving power series expansions whose implementation is apparently immediate, their use is thwarted by instabilities induced by cancellations between very large terms. Furthermore, small areas of the complex plane are inaccessible using only 2F1 power series formulas, thus rendering 2F1 evaluations impossible on a purely analytical basis. In order to solve these problems, a generalization of R.C. Forrey's transformation theory has been developed. The latter has been successful in treating the 2F1 function with real parameters. As in real case transformation theory, the large canceling terms occurring in 2F1 analytical formulas are rigorously dealt with, but by way of a new method, directly applicable to the complex plane. Taylor series expansions are employed to enter complex areas outside the domain of validity of power series analytical formulas. The proposed algorithm, however, becomes unstable in general when |a|,|b|,|c| are moderate or large. As a physical application, the calculation of the wave functions of the analytical Poschl-Teller-Ginocchio potential involving 2F1 evaluations is considered.Comment: 29 pages; accepted in Computer Physics Communication

Expansions of the solutions of the general Heun equation governed by two-term recurrence relations for coefficients

We examine the expansions of the solutions of the general Heun equation in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric functions. We present several expansions using functions, the forms of which differ from those applied before. In general, the coefficients of the expansions obey three-term recurrence relations. However, there exist certain choices of the parameters for which the recurrence relations become two-term. The coefficients of the expansions are then explicitly expressed in terms of the gamma functions. Discussing the termination of the presented series, we show that the finite-sum solutions of the general Heun equation in terms of generally irreducible hypergeometric functions have a representation through a single generalized hypergeometric function. Consequently, the power-series expansion of the Heun function for any such case is governed by a two-term recurrence relation

Large Parameter Cases of the Gauss Hypergeometric Function

We consider the asymptotic behaviour of the Gauss hypergeometric function when several of the parameters a, b, c are large. We indicate which cases are of interest for orthogonal polynomials (Jacobi, but also Krawtchouk, Meixner, etc.), which results are already available and which cases need more attention. We also consider a few examples of 3F2-functions of unit argument, to explain which difficulties arise in these cases, when standard integrals or differential equations are not available.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figure