Ramanujan's ``Lost'' notebook. VIII: The entire Rogers-Ramanujan function (Q702705)

In Ramanujan's ``lost'' notebook it is claimed that \[ \sum_{n = 0}^{\infty} \frac{a^nq^{n^2}}{(q;q)_n} = \prod_{n = 1}^{\infty} \left(1 + \frac{aq^{2n-1}}{1-q^ny_1 - q^{2n}y_2 -q^{3n}y_3 - \cdots} \right), \] where \[ \begin{aligned} y_1 &= \frac{(q;q^2)_{\infty}^2}{(1-q)(q^2;q^2)_{\infty}^2}, \\ y_2 &= 0, \\ y_3 &= \frac{(q+q^3)(q;q^2)_{\infty}^2}{(1-q)(1-q^2)(1-q^3)(q^2;q^2)_{\infty}^2} - \frac{(q;q^2)_{\infty}^6 \sum_{n \geq 0} \frac{(2n+1)q^{2n+1}}{1-q^{2n+1}}}{(1-q)^3(q^2;q^2)_{\infty}^6}, \text{and} y_4 &= y_1y_3. \end{aligned} \] Here we make the usual assumption that \(| q| < 1\) and use the standard notation \[ (a;q)_n = \prod_{k=0}^{n-1} (1-aq^k). \] Adjectives like ``bizarre,'' ``disturbing,'' and ``enigmatic'' that are attributed by Andrews to this identity are well-justified. It is completely different from a typical \(q\)-series identity like \[ \sum_{n=0}^{\infty} \frac{a^nq^{n^2}}{(q;q)_n} = \frac{1}{(aq;q)_{\infty}} \left(1 + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{(aq;q)_{n-1}(-1)^na^{2n}q^{n(5n-1)/2}(1-aq^{2n})}{(q;q)_n} \right) \] Moreover, it is not at all clear what the ``...'' in the denominator of the right hand side means. The mystery is deftly solved in the present paper using properties of entire functions, theta series, \(q\)-series, and the Stieltjes-Wigert orthogonal polynomials. What Ramanujan is actually presenting is the product representation of the left hand side considered as an entire function in the variable \(a\). It turns out that if \(z_n\) denotes the \(n\)th zero of this function, then \[ z_n = -q^{-2n+1}(1-\sum_{i=1}^{\infty}y_iq^{ni}), \] where the \(y_i\) are uniquely determined by the relation \[ \sum_{j=0}^N \frac{(-1)^{N-j}q^{N-j+1 \choose 2}}{(q;q)_{N-j}} \sum_{k_1 + 2k_2 + \cdots + jk_j = j} \frac{(-1)^{k_1+\cdots+k_j} y_1^{k_1} \cdots y_j^{k_j} \theta_{N-j+1,k_1+\cdots+k_j}}{k_1! \cdots k_j!} = 0. \] Here \(\theta_{m,k}\) is defined by \[ \theta_{m,k} = \sum_{n = -\infty}^{\infty} (-1)^nq^{n^2+mn}n(n-1)\cdots(n-k+1). \] For Part VII, cf. Adv. Math. 89, No. 1, 60--105 (1991; Zbl 0739.11042), Part IX, cf. Adv. Math. 191, No. 2, 408--422 (2005; Zbl 1067.11061)