The symbol has at least two different meanings
in mathematics. It can refer to a special function related to Bessel functions, or
(written either with a capital or lower-case "K"), it can denote a kernel.
The function is defined as the real part of
(1)
|
where is a modified
Bessel function of the second kind. Therefore
(2)
|
where is the real
part.
It is implemented in the Wolfram Language as KelvinKer[nu, z].
has a complicated series given
by Abramowitz and Stegun (1972, p. 379).
850
The special case
is commonly denoted
and has the plot shown above.
has the series expansion
(3)
|
where is the digamma
function (Abramowitz and Stegun 1972, p. 380).
"ker" is also an abbreviation for "group kernel" of a group homomorphism.