Higher-order monotonicity conjecture for contiguous parabolic-cylinder-function ratios

Let U(n,x)U(n,x) denote the parabolic cylinder function. For n>1/2n>1/2, define

Rn[1](x)=U(n1,x)U(n,x),R_n^{[1]}(x)=\frac{U(n-1,x)}{U(n,x)},

and recursively set

Rn[k+1](x)=Rn[k](x)Rn+1[k](x).R_n^{[k+1]}(x)=\frac{R_n^{[k]}(x)}{R_{n+1}^{[k]}(x)}.

Higher-order ratio monotonicity conjecture. The functions Rn[k](x)R_n^{[k]}(x) are positive and increasing in xx, satisfy Rn[k+1](x)>Rn[k](x)R_n^{[k+1]}(x)>R_n^{[k]}(x), and obey Rn[k](x)<1R_n^{[k]}(x)<1 when k2k\geq 2.

This conjecture generalizes the known monotonicity of the double ratio Wn(x)W_n(x) and would provide a systematic hierarchy of monotonicity properties for contiguous ratios of parabolic cylinder functions. The source gives no resolution of the conjecture.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Javier Segura, “On bounds for ratios of contiguous hypergeometric functions”, arXiv:2408.05573 (2024).

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