Lectures On Orthogonal Polynomials And Special Functions

Contains graduate-level introductions by international experts to five areas of research in orthogonal polynomials and special functions.

Special functions and orthogonal polynomials in particular have been around for centuries. Can you imagine mathematics without trigonometric functions, the exponential function or polynomials? In the twentieth century the emphasis was on special functions satisfying linear differential equations, but this has now been extended to difference equations, partial differential equations and non-linear differential equations. The present set of lecture notes containes seven chapters about the current state of orthogonal polynomials and special functions and gives a view on open problems and future directions. The topics are: computational methods and software for quadrature and approximation, equilibrium problems in logarithmic potential theory, discrete orthogonal polynomials and convergence of Krylov subspace methods in numerical linear algebra, orthogonal rational functions and matrix orthogonal rational functions, orthogonal polynomials in several variables (Jack polynomials) and separation of variables, a classification of finite families of orthogonal polynomials in Askey’s scheme using Leonard pairs, and non-linear special functions associated with the Painlevé equations.

This new book presents research in orthogonal polynomials and special functions. Recent developments in the theory and accomplishments of the last decade are pointed out and directions for research in the future are identified. The topics covered include matrix orthogonal polynomials, spectral theory and special functions, Asymptotics for orthogonal polynomials via Riemann-Hilbert methods, Polynomial wavelets and Koornwinder polynomials.

Originally presented as lectures, the theme of this volume is that one studies orthogonal polynomials and special functions not for their own sake, but to be able to use them to solve problems. The author presents problems suggested by the isometric embedding of projective spaces in other projective spaces, by the desire to construct large classes of univalent functions, by applications to quadrature problems, and theorems on the location of zeros of trigonometric polynomials. There are also applications to combinatorial problems, statistics, and physical problems.

(308 Pages). This book is written to provide an easy to follow study on the subject of Special Functions and Orthogonal Polynomials. It is written in such a way that it can be used as a self study text. Basic knowledge of calculus and differential equations is needed. The book is intended to help students in engineering, physics and applied sciences understand various aspects of Special Functions and Orthogonal Polynomials that very often occur in engineering, physics, mathematics and applied sciences. The book is organized in chapters that are in a sense self contained. Chapter 1 deals with series solutions of Differential Equations. Gamma and Beta functions are studied in Chapter 2 together with other functions that are defined by integrals. Legendre Polynomials and Functions are studied in Chapter 3. Chapters 4 and 5 deal with Hermite, Laguerre and other Orthogonal Polynomials. A detailed treatise of Bessel Function in given in Chapter 6.

The set of lectures from the Summer School held in Leuven in 2002 provide an up-to-date account of recent developments in orthogonal polynomials and special functions, in particular for algorithms for computer algebra packages, 3nj-symbols in representation theory of Lie groups, enumeration, multivariable special functions and Dunkl operators, asymptotics via the Riemann-Hilbert method, exponential asymptotics and the Stokes phenomenon. The volume aims at graduate students and post-docs working in the field of orthogonal polynomials and special functions, and in related fields interacting with orthogonal polynomials, such as combinatorics, computer algebra, asymptotics, representation theory, harmonic analysis, differential equations, physics. The lectures are self-contained requiring only a basic knowledge of analysis and algebra, and each includes many exercises.