Single polymer dynamics in elongational flow and the confluent Heun equation

We investigate the non-equilibrium dynamics of an isolated polymer in a stationary elongational flow. We compute the relaxation time to the steady-state configuration as a function of the Weissenberg number. A strong increase of the relaxation time is found around the coil-stretch transition, which is attributed to the large number of polymer configurations. The relaxation dynamics of the polymer is solved analytically in terms of a central two-point connection problem for the singly confluent Heun equation.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Ince's limits for confluent and double-confluent Heun equations

We find pairs of solutions to a differential equation which is obtained as a special limit of a generalized spheroidal wave equation (this is also known as confluent Heun equation). One solution in each pair is given by a series of hypergeometric functions and converges for any finite value of the independent variable $z$, while the other is given by a series of modified Bessel functions and converges for $|z|>|z_{0}|$, where $z_{0}$ denotes a regular singularity. For short, the preceding limit is called Ince's limit after Ince who have used the same procedure to get the Mathieu equations from the Whittaker-Hill ones. We find as well that, when $z_{0}$ tends to zero, the Ince limit of the generalized spheroidal wave equation turns out to be the Ince limit of a double-confluent Heun equation, for which solutions are provided. Finally, we show that the Schr\"odinger equation for inverse fourth and sixth-power potentials reduces to peculiar cases of the double-confluent Heun equation and its Ince's limit, respectively.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Mathmatical Physic

Teukolsky-Starobinsky Identities - a Novel Derivation and Generalizations

We present a novel derivation of the Teukolsky-Starobinsky identities, based on properties of the confluent Heun functions. These functions define analytically all exact solutions to the Teukolsky master equation, as well as to the Regge-Wheeler and Zerilli ones. The class of solutions, subject to Teukolsky-Starobinsky type of identities is studied. Our generalization of the Teukolsky-Starobinsky identities is valid for the already studied linear perturbations to the Kerr and Schwarzschild metrics, as well as for large new classes of of such perturbations which are explicitly described in the present article. Symmetry of parameters of confluent Heun's functions is shown to stay behind the behavior of the known solutions under the change of the sign of their spin weights. A new efficient recurrent method for calculation of Starobinsky's constant is described.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX file, no figures, final versio

Novel relations and new properties of confluent Heun's functions and their derivatives of arbitrary order

The present article reveals important properties of the confluent Heun's functions. We derive a set of novel relations for confluent Heun's functions and their derivatives of arbitrary order. Specific new subclasses of confluent Heun's functions are introduced and studied. A new alternative derivation of confluent Heun's polynomials is presented.Comment: 8 pages, no figures, LaTeX file, final versio

Exact Solutions of Regge-Wheeler Equation and Quasi-Normal Modes of Compact Objects

The well-known Regge-Wheeler equation describes the axial perturbations of Schwarzschild metric in the linear approximation. From a mathematical point of view it presents a particular case of the confluent Heun equation and can be solved exactly, due to recent mathematical developments. We present the basic properties of its general solution. A novel analytical approach and numerical techniques for study the boundary problems which correspond to quasi-normal modes of black holes and other simple models of compact objects are developed.Comment: latex file, 25 pages, 4 figures, new references, new results and new Appendix added, some comments and corrections in the text made. Accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravity, 2006, simplification of notations, changes in the norm in some formulas, corrections in reference

Transformations of Heun's equation and its integral relations

We find transformations of variables which preserve the form of the equation for the kernels of integral relations among solutions of the Heun equation. These transformations lead to new kernels for the Heun equation, given by single hypergeometric functions (Lambe-Ward-type kernels) and by products of two hypergeometric functions (Erd\'elyi-type). Such kernels, by a limiting process, also afford new kernels for the confluent Heun equation.Comment: This version was published in J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 44 (2011) 07520

Solutions for the General, Confluent and Biconfluent Heun equations and their connection with Abel equations

In a recent paper, the canonical forms of a new multi-parameter class of Abel differential equations, so-called AIR, all of whose members can be mapped into Riccati equations, were shown to be related to the differential equations for the hypergeometric 2F1, 1F1 and 0F1 functions. In this paper, a connection between the AIR canonical forms and the Heun General (GHE), Confluent (CHE) and Biconfluent (BHE) equations is presented. This connection fixes the value of one of the Heun parameters, expresses another one in terms of those remaining, and provides closed form solutions in terms of pFq functions for the resulting GHE, CHE and BHE, respectively depending on four, three and two irreducible parameters. This connection also turns evident what is the relation between the Heun parameters such that the solutions admit Liouvillian form, and suggests a mechanism for relating linear equations with N and N-1 singularities through the canonical forms of a non-linear equation of one order less.Comment: Original version submitted to Journal of Physics A: 16 pages, related to math.GM/0002059 and math-ph/0402040. Revised version according to referee's comments: 23 pages. Sign corrected (June/17) in formula (79). Second revised version (July/25): 25 pages. See also http://lie.uwaterloo.ca/odetools.ht

Classes of Exact Solutions to the Teukolsky Master Equation

The Teukolsky Master Equation is the basic tool for study of perturbations of the Kerr metric in linear approximation. It admits separation of variables, thus yielding the Teukolsky Radial Equation and the Teukolsky Angular Equation. We present here a unified description of all classes of exact solutions to these equations in terms of the confluent Heun functions. Large classes of new exact solutions are found and classified with respect to their characteristic properties. Special attention is paid to the polynomial solutions which are singular ones and introduce collimated one-way-running waves. It is shown that a proper linear combination of such solutions can present bounded one-way-running waves. This type of waves may be suitable as models of the observed astrophysical jets.Comment: 27 pages, LaTeX file, no figures. Final versio