In some recent work by D. G. Kendall and the author † on the number of points of a lattice which lie in a random circle the mean value of the variance emerged as a constant multiple of the value of the Epstein zeta-function Z(s) associated with the lattice, taken at the point s=. Because of the connexion with the problems of closest packing and covering it seemed likely that the minimum value of Z() would be attained for the hexagonal lattice; it is the purpose of this paper to prove this and to extend the result to other real values of the variable s.

For a given sequence {am} and p≠0, Schur (2) defined

In particular if p is a prime, a an integer and , then by Fermat's theorem

is integral. Schur proved that if p † a, then all the derivatives

are integral. Zorn (3) using p-adic methods proved Schur's results and also found the residue of Xm (mod pm), where and x = 1 (mod p). The writer (1) proved Zorn's congruences by elementary methods as well as certain additional results of a similar sort.

An infinite or semi-infinite medium, in which heat is generated or absorbed at a rate proportional to the temperature, is placed at temperature zero in contact with a perfect conductor of finite heat capacity at a higher temperature. Expressions are derived for the subsequent behaviour in linear and spherical cases, and applications suggested.

Let μ be an isomorphism which maps a subgroup A of the group G onto a second subgroup B (not necessarily distinct from A) of G; then μ is called a partial automorphism of G. If A coincides with G, that is if the isomorphism is defined on the whole of G, we speak of a total automorphism; this is what is usually called an automorphism of G. A partial (or total) automorphism μ,* extends or continues a partial automorphism μ if μ* is defined for, at least, all those elements for which μ is defined, and moreover μ* coincides with μ where μ is defined.

The purpose of the present note is to give some interesting and simple identities connected with basic hypergeometric series of the types 2Φ1 and 3Φ2.

The formula to be proved is

The formulae required in the proof are the Barnes Integral

and Whipple's Formula (1)

§ 2. Proof of the Formula. From (2) the E-function on the left of (1) is equal to

The formula to be established is

where l, m, n. are any numbers real or complex and R(b)>0. A similar result, involving Bessel Functions of the First Kind, was obtained by Hanumanta Rao [Mess, of Maths., XLVII. (1918), pp. 134–137].

This paper describes a simple method of evaluating integrals of a type some cases of which have been discussed by Dr. Ragab.

The following formulae are required in the proofs

If p≧q + 1, z ≠ 0,

If. p = q + 1, | z |>1 in this formula.

In § 2 the following two formulae will be established.

If, when p≧q + l, R(ar + k)>0, r = 1, 2,…, p and | ampz |<π,

If p≧q, the result holds if the integral is convergent.