''q''-exponential
In combinatorial mathematics, a q-exponential is a q-analog of the exponential function, namely the eigenfunction of a q-derivative. There are many q-derivatives, for example, the classical q-derivative, the Askey-Wilson operator, etc. Therefore, unlike the classical exponentials, q-exponentials are not unique. For example, is the q-exponential corresponding to the classical q-derivative while are eigenfunctions of the Askey-Wilson operators.
Definition
The q-exponential is defined as
where is the q-factorial and
is the q-Pochhammer symbol. That this is the q-analog of the exponential follows from the property
where the derivative on the left is the q-derivative. The above is easily verified by considering the q-derivative of the monomial
Here, is the q-bracket.
Properties
For real , the function is an entire function of z. For , is regular in the disk .
Note the inverse, .
Relations
For , a function that is closely related is It is a special case of the basic hypergeometric series,
Clearly,
References
- Exton, H. (1983), q-Hypergeometric Functions and Applications, New York: Halstead Press, Chichester: Ellis Horwood, ISBN 0853124914, ISBN 0470274530, ISBN 978-0470274538
- Gasper, G. & Rahman, M. (2004), Basic Hypergeometric Series, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0521833574
- Ismail, M. E. H. (2005), Classical and Quantum Orthogonal Polynomials in One Variable, Cambridge University Press.
- Jackson, F. H. (1908), "On q-functions and a certain difference operator", Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 46, 253-281.