B2.18

Methods of Mathematical Physics | Part II, 2001

The Bessel function Jν(z)J_{\nu}(z) is defined, for ∣arg⁡z∣<π/2|\arg z|<\pi / 2, by

Jν(z)=12πi∫−∞(0+)e(t−t−1)z/2t−ν−1dt,J_{\nu}(z)=\frac{1}{2 \pi i} \int_{-\infty}^{\left(0^{+}\right)} \mathrm{e}^{\left(t-t^{-1}\right) z / 2} t^{-\nu-1} d t,

where the path of integration is the Hankel contour and t−ν−1t^{-\nu-1} is the principal branch.

Use the method of steepest descent to show that, as z→+∞z \rightarrow+\infty,

Jν(z)∼(2/πz)12cos⁡(z−πν/2−π/4).J_{\nu}(z) \sim(2 / \pi z)^{\frac{1}{2}} \cos (z-\pi \nu / 2-\pi / 4) .

You should give a rough sketch of the steepest descent paths.

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