A Treatise on the Theory of Bessel Functions

G.N. Watson's A Treatise on the Theory of Bessel Functions is a mathematics book originally published in 1922. Author Watson was a well-known mathematician and a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Birmingham. This book, now republished by Forgotten Books, is intended as a resource guide for students and scholars of the theory of functions of complex variables and mathematics in general.

The book opens with a detailed history of Bessel Functions before 1826. This background information serves as the jumping off point for the author's presentation of his treatise on the theory of Bessel functions. From there, the Bessel coefficients are introduced, and Watson's mathematical discussion begins in earnest. The book provides a detailed examination of all aspects of Bessel functions, including asymptotic expansions of Bessel functions, associated polynomials, the zeros of Bessel functions, and the Schlumilch series and its relationships to Bessel functions, among other topics.

A Treatise on the Theory of Bessel Functions is clearly and overtly intended for serious students and scholars of mathematics. This is a reference guide for those familiar with advanced principles, and should not be approached by the beginner. This work would not make an appropriate textbook, nor is it suitable for those who have not previously been introduced to the theory of Bessel functions.

As a reference guide, A Treatise on the Theory of Bessel Functions is a success. At over 800 pages it is a massive collection, and one that is sure to be beneficial to serious students of mathematics. This book is rich with information for those who have the background knowledge to absorb it, and is thus recommended for those pursuing the study of Bessel functions.