Course syllabus

Week 1
:Asymptotic series. Introduction.

1.1 Asymptotic series as approximation of definite integrals;

1.2 Taylor Series vs Asymptotic Expansions;
1.3 Optimal summation. Superasymptotics;
1.4 Taylor Series vs Asymptotic Expansions II (Illustration);
1.5 Integration by parts technique; limitations and more examples;
1.6 Estimation of reminder term.

Week 2: Laplace method and stationary phase approximation.

2.1 Laplace method: Introduction;

2.2 Laplace method: example;
2.3 Laplace method: Full asymptotic series;
2.4 Stationary phase approximation.

Week 3
:Elementary special functions.

3.1 Eulers Gamma function, definition and elementary properties;

3.2 Analytical continuation and examples of applications;
3.3 Stirling formula and its analytic continuation;
3.4 Computation of infinite products, examples;
3.6 Digamma function: properties and asymptotics;
3.7 Beta-function: definition, properties and examples;
3.8 Applications of digamma function.

Week 4: Saddle point approximation.

4.1
Saddle point approximation;
4.2 Application: relativistic particle in a corner;
4.3 Application: asymptotic of Legendre polynomials;
4.4 Application: Non-homogeneous exponent.
 Week 5
:Construction of solutions of DE by power series.

5.1 Representation of solutions of differential equations by

convergent series;
5.2 Kummer's equation, full study;
5.3 Bessel Function, asymptotics.

Week 6
:Physical Applications, I.

6.1 Bound state in 1D quantum mechanics;

6.2 Bound state in a shallow potential.

Week 7: Saddle point approximation II.

7.1 Saddle point approximation, end-points contribution;

7.3 Higher order saddles;
7.4 Coalescent saddle and pole;
7.5 Watsons lemma.

Week 8: DE with linear coefficients.

8.1 Introduction into the method;

8.2 Examples: (building of exact solutions, choice of the contour,
study of asymptotics, deformation of contours and branchcuts,
normalization);
a) Example 1;
b) Example 2;
c) Example 3;
d) Example 4 (advanced).

Week 9: Physical applications, II.

9.1 1D Coulomb potential;

9.2 Harmonic oscillator 1;
9.3 Particle on a spring with a wall;
9.4 Harmonic oscillator 2(different ansatz, different contours).

Week 10. Stokes Phenomenon in asymptotic series and WKB.

10.1 Airy asymptotic series;

10.2 WKB;
10.3 Asymptotics of Airy's function in the complex plane;
10.4 Stokes Phenomenon.

Week 11. Differential EQS with linear coefficients, II.

11.1 Example 1: equation of the third order, study of the structure

of contours and asymptotics;
11.2 Example 2 (advanced): equation of the third order, study of the
structure of contours and asymptotics.

Week 12: Physical applications, III.

12.1 Over-barrier reflection, basic theory;

12.2 Over-barrier reflection, two turning points;
12.3 Advanced example: Over-barrier reflection from the turning
point and the pole.

Week 13
:Physical applications, IV.

13.1 Aharonov-Bohm effect, Introduction;

13.2 Partial wave decomposition (no flux);
13.3 Partial wave decomposition (with flux);
13.4 Asymptotic behavior and dislocations of the wave trains.

Week 14
:Final Exam.