Fundamental solutions of the Tricomi operator. III (Q2572632)

In this paper the authors complete their results with respect to the Tricomi operator: \[ \Im =y\;\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x^2}+\frac{\partial^2}{\partial y^2}\,. \] Let \((\xi,\eta)\) be a point in \(\mathbb R^2\). A distribution \(K_{(\xi,\eta)}(x,y)\in {\mathcal D}'(\mathbb R^2)\) is said to be a fundamental solution of \(\Im\) relative to \((\xi,\eta)\) if \[ \Im_{x,y}K_{(\xi,\eta)}(x,y) = \delta_{(\xi,\eta)}(x,y), \] where \(\delta_{(\xi,\eta)}(x,y)\) is the Dirac distribution at \((\xi,\eta)\). Explicit expressions for fundamental solutions of \(\Im\) relative to any point in the elliptic, parabolic, or hyperbolic region of it are obtained. It is revealed the important role that the hypergeometric function \(F(1/6, 1/6; 1;\zeta)\) plays in finding such solutions. In view of the invariance of \(\Im\) under translations along the \(x\)-axis and in order to simplify notation, it suffices to consider the case when \((\xi,\eta)=(0,b)\) is an arbitrary point along the \(y\)-axis. There are then three cases to be dealt with, namely, \(b>0\), \(b=0\), and \(b<0\). Some basic facts on hypergeometric functions are reviewed and various technical results are proved. For parts I and II see ibid. 98, No.~3, 465--483 (1999; Zbl 0945.35063), 111, No.~3, 561--584 (2002; Zbl 1017.35081) and 117, No.~2, 385--387 (2003; Zbl 1029.35192).