B4.19

Methods of Mathematical Physics
Part II, 2003

By setting w(z)=γf(t)eztdtw(z)=\int_{\gamma} f(t) e^{-z t} d t, where γ\gamma and f(t)f(t) are to be suitably chosen, explain how to find integral representations of the solutions of the equation

zwkw=0z w^{\prime \prime}-k w=0

where kk is a non-zero real constant and zz is complex. Discuss γ\gamma in the particular case that zz is restricted to be real and positive and distinguish the different cases that arise according to the sign\operatorname{sign} of kk.

Show that in this particular case, by choosing γ\gamma as a closed contour around the origin, it is possible to express a solution in the form

w(z)=An=0(zk)n+1n!(n+1)!w(z)=A \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{(z k)^{n+1}}{n !(n+1) !}

where AA is a constant.

Show also that for k>0k>0 there are solutions that satisfy

w(z)Bz1/4e2kz as zw(z) \sim B z^{1 / 4} e^{-2 \sqrt{k z}} \quad \text { as } z \rightarrow \infty

where BB is a constant.