pracma (version 1.8.8)

psi: Psi (Polygamma) Function

Description

Arbitrary order Polygamma function valid in the entire complex plane.

Usage

psi(k, z)

Arguments

k

order of the polygamma function, whole number greater or equal 0.

z

numeric complex number or vector.

Value

• Returns a complex number or a vector of complex numbers.

Details

Computes the Polygamma function of arbitrary order, and valid in the entire complex plane. The polygamma function is defined as

$$\psi(n, z) = \frac{d^{n+1}}{dz^{n+1}} \log(\Gamma(z))$$

If n is 0 or absent then psi will be the Digamma function. If n=1,2,3,4,5 etc. then psi will be the tri-, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, hepta- etc. gamma function.

Examples

psi(2) - psi(1)         # 1
-psi(1)                 # Eulers constant: 0.57721566490153  [or, -psi(0, 1)]
psi(1, 2)               # pi^2/6 - 1     : 0.64493406684823
psi(10, -11.5-0.577007813568142i)
                        # is near a root of the decagamma function