The Stokes phenomenon and generalized contiguous transformations of some generalized hypergeometric functions

Abstract

AbstractPrevious investigations by the author into the Stokes phenomenon pertaining to solutions of the differential equation dnu/dzn = (–1)nzmu are extended in order to find when different equations have the same set of Stokes multipliers, with perhaps a series of zeros being additionally allowed. The reason for periodic cycles to exist (with n fixed and m varying), with the same Stokes multipliers regained after a complete cycle, is traced to certain transformation properties of the equations. Within the first cycle (with n fixed and m varying) further remarkable identities exist between the Stokes multipliers, and this also is traced to special transformations between the equations. Relations are found toexist when values of m are chosen so that the highest common factors of the two integers n and n/(n + m) are identical. Finally, a transformation of the independent variable is deduced whereby the set of Stokes multipliers for an equation of order n is identical (apart from the additional zeros) to that for an equation of lower order. A hierarchy of equations is thrown up, whereby certain basic equations are transformed to yield more advanced equations of higher order and different m.