Published online by Cambridge University Press: 20 January 2009
The sequence of orthogonal functions derived from Laguerre-polynomials is known to be complete, and hence closed, in L2 (0, ∞) if (a) > − 1. In a recent paper Dr Kober introduced a generalisation of this sequence, which enables him to extend the known results also for (a) < − 1. Kober's guiding principle seems to be the following one: The Laguerre orthogonal functions form, for (a) > − 1, a complete system of self and skew reciprocal functions of the Hankel transformation of order a. Now, if (a) < − 1, the ordinary Hankel transform has to be replaced by so-called cut Hankel transform. Hence the system of functions which has to replace-Laguerre orthogonal functions when (a) < − 1, should be a complete system of self and skew reciprocal functions of the cut Hankel transformation of order a, such that it reduces for (a) > − 1 (when the cut Hankel transform reduces to the ordinary one) to the sequence of Laguerre orthogonal functions. This, of course, is by no means a unique definition; nevertheless, together with what one would call the permanence of the Mellin transform, it enabled Kober to find a sequence of functions which (i) reduces to the sequence of Laguerre orthogonal functions when (a) > − 1, m = 0, (ii) is a complete set of self and skew reciprocal functions of the cut Hankel transformation with kernel Ja, m and (iii) has the required qualities of completeness and closedness.
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