Asymptotics of the generalized Gegenbauer functions of fractional degree

Abstract

The generalized Gegenbauer functions of fractional degree (GGF-Fs), denoted by rGν(λ)(x) (right GGF-Fs) and lGν(λ)(x) (left GGF-Fs) with x∈(−1,1),λ>−1∕2 and real ν≥0, are special functions (usually non-polynomials), which are defined upon the hypergeometric representation of the classical Gegenbauer polynomial by allowing integer degree to be real fractional degree. Remarkably, the GGF-Fs become indispensable for optimal error estimates of polynomial approximation to singular functions, and have intimate relations with several families of nonstandard basis functions recently introduced for solving fractional differential equations. However, some properties of GGF-Fs, which are important pieces for the analysis and applications, are unknown or under explored. The purposes of this paper are twofold. The first is to show that for λ>−1∕2 and x=cosθ with θ∈(0,π),(sinθ)λrGν(λ)(cosθ)=2λΓ(λ+1∕2)π(ν+λ)λcos((ν+λ)θ−λπ∕2)+Rν(λ)(θ),and derive the precise expression of the “residual” term Rν(λ)(θ) for all real ν≥ν0 (with some ν0>0). With this at our disposal, we obtain the bounds of GGF-Fs uniform in ν. Under an appropriate weight function, the bounds are uniform for θ∈[0,π] as well. Moreover, we can study the asymptotics of GGF-Fs with large fractional degree ν. The second is to present miscellaneous properties of GGF-Fs for better understanding of this family of useful special functions.