Hyperasymptotics for integrals with saddles. (English) Zbl 0764.30031

Berry, M. V.; Howls, C. J.

Proc. R. Soc. Lond., Ser. A 434, No. 1892, 657-675 (1991).

Integrals of the type \(\int_{{\mathcal C}_ n} g(z) \exp(-k f(z)) dz\) are considered, where \(k\) is a large parameter. It is assumed that \(f\) has several first order saddle points (simple zeros of \(f'(z)\)). \({{\mathcal C}_ n}\) is an infinite contour through the saddle point \(z_ n\). With the aid of the principle of resurgence, inspired by the works of Dingle and Écalle, the divergence of the asymptotic expansions is interpreted in terms of the influence of other saddle points. Hyperasymptotic methods are used in order to obtain an improved asymptotic expansion. The term ‘hyperasymptotics’ is introduced in an earlier paper by M. V. Berry and C. J. Howls [ibid. 430, No. 1880, 653-668 (1990; Zbl 0745.34052)] used for functions defined by differential equations.

Reviewer: N.M.Temme (Amsterdam)

MSC:

30E15	Asymptotic representations in the complex plane
41A60	Asymptotic approximations, asymptotic expansions (steepest descent, etc.)

Keywords:

saddle points; principle of resurgence; hyperasymptotics