# Understanding a specific meromorphic function that comes from a statistical physics research problem

Dear Math Stackexchange,

I'm a physics researcher working on a problem in quantum statistical physics. I've encountered the following function which I do not recognize (neither does Mathematica):

$$R(z; a,b) =\sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \frac{a^k}{1+z \, b^k},$$

where $a$ and $b$ are real parameters, $b>1$ and $0<a<b$.

In practice I need values of this function for $z$ on the real positive semi-axis, but I would like to understand it better first. As far as I see, $R(z; a,b)$ is a meromorphic function with poles within the unit circle and an essential singularity at $z=0$.

Can it be related to some known special function? Are there more efficient ways to compute it rather than to sum the defining series directly? I'd appreciate any advice or hint. Physical context for this problem can be found on Physics SE.

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At least when $|z|>1$, $$R(z;a,b)=\sum_{k=0}^{+\infty}(-1)^k\frac{b^{k+1}}{b^{k+1}-a}\left(\frac1z\right)^{k+1}.$$ Thus, $R(\,\cdot\,;a,b)$ may be expressed as a $q$-hypergeometric function ${}_2\phi_1$. In the special case when $a=1$, $R(z;1,b)=-L_1(-b/z,1/b)$ where $L_1(\,\cdot\, ;q)$ is the $q$-logarithm.

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Thanks! This seems to be the way to go (numerically) outside the unit circle, although approaching the $|z|=1$ the convergence naturally slows down. –  Slaviks Aug 20 '11 at 13:56
Yes. With the exception that if $z$ is real and $1\le z\le b$ (the case $z=1$ included) then for every $a$ the series is alternated. Hence $R(z)$ is between two successive partial sums. Don't know if this helps. –  Did Aug 20 '11 at 14:07
For searching purposes: ${}_p \phi_q$ is sometimes referred to as a basic hypergeometric series... –  Guess who it is. Aug 21 '11 at 16:14
Still struggling with $|z|<1$ though. It is easy to prove that $R(z; a,b) = \frac{1}{1-a} - R(1/z; a,1/b)$ but I have difficulty to link it to a convergent $q$-series. –  Slaviks Aug 22 '11 at 13:07

Completing Didier's solution, the answer for $|z|>1$ in terms of $q$-hypergeometric function is

$$R(z; a,b) = \frac{1}{a-1} \left ( {}_2\phi_1\left [ \begin{matrix} 1/b , \, a \\ a/b \end{matrix} ; 1/b, -1/z \right ] -1 \right ) .$$

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After getting used a bit to $q$-hypergeometric function , I found a way to re-arrange the series for $|a|<1$ and $z>0$:

If $b>1$, $$R(z; a,b) =\frac{1}{1-a}- \sum_{k=0}^{\infty} \frac{a^k}{1+b^{-k} z^{-1}}=\frac{1}{1-a}- {}_2\phi_1\left [ \begin{matrix} -1/z , \, 1/b \\ -1/(b z) \end{matrix} ; 1/b, a \right ] \frac{z}{1+z} .$$

If $b<1$, $$R(z; a,b) = {}_2\phi_1\left [ \begin{matrix} -z , \, b \\ -b \, z \end{matrix} ; b, a \right ] \frac{1}{1+z} .$$

This covers all the relevant cases for the original physics problem.

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I haven't taken a good look at basic hypergeometric series, but the usual hypergeometric series allows for transformations like these, which I presume are just the limiting cases as $q\to 1^-$. –  Guess who it is. Aug 23 '11 at 3:49