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A MEMOIR ON THE SINGLE AND DOUBLE THETA-FUNCTIONS.
[704
is not restricted to the case where the a, /3, y, 8 represent integers, and there is
actually occasion to consider functions of this form where they are not integers: in
particular, a, /3 may be either or each of them of the form, integer+ ^. But the
functions thus obtained are not regarded as theta-functions, and the expression theta-
lunction will consequently not extend to include them.
Properties of the Theta-Functions: Various sub-headings.
Even-integer alteration of characters.
6. If x, y be integers, then m, n having the several even integer values from
— oo to +oo respectively, it is obvious that m + a + 2x, n + /3 + 2y will have the same
series of values with m + a, n + /3 respectively; and it thence follows that
/a + 2x, /3 + 2y
\y » 8
) 0> v) = %
Similarly if z, w are integers, then in the function
*
a , ß \
y +2 z, 8 + 2 w)
(u, v)
the argument of the exponential function contains the term
n [m + a. u + y + 2z + n + /3. v + 8 + 2w};
this differs from its original value by
I iri (m + a. 2z + n + /3.2w),
= iri (mz + mu) + 7ri (az + ßw),
and then, m and n being even integers, mz + mu is also an even integer, and the
term iri (mz + mu) does not affect the value of the exponential : we thus introduce
into each term of the series the factor exp. iri (az + /3w), which is, in fact, = (—) aZ +P w ;
and we consequently have
* (“+2,; L 2 J <“•»(“; s) ;
or, uniting the two results,
K“ + 2l; 8 + 2w) <“’ f)(- *)•
This sustains the before-mentioned conclusion that the only distinct functions are the
16 functions obtained by giving to the characters a, 0, y, 8 the values 0 and 1
respectively.
Odd-integer alteration of characters.
7. The effect is obviously to interchange the different functions.