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I would like to get some information about the following functional equation:

$$f(z)=\frac{1}{24} - \frac{1}{2z} + \frac{\pi^2}{z^2} \left ( \frac{1}{6} -4 \ f \left (\frac{-4\pi^2}{z}\right )\right )$$

This functional relationship must hold only for $\mathfrak{R}(z)>0$. I would like to know wether it is possible to know what types of functions hold it.

To be clear, I do not know where to start from. I have barely worked with functional equations in my life.

Any help or bibliography will be welcomed.

Edit: Answering the comments, we are supposed to know that $f(z)$ as $z \to 0^+$ is $ O\left ( \frac{1}{z^2} \right )$. Moreover, we know that $f(-2\pi)=f(2\pi)=\frac{1}{24} - \frac{1}{8\pi}$. Thank you for the help received.

Edit 2: $f(z)$ is even: $f(z)=f(-z)$. From here, we could get the follwing functional equation for $\mathfrak{R}(z)<0$:

$$f(z)=\frac{1}{24} + \frac{1}{2z} + \frac{\pi^2}{z^2} \left ( \frac{1}{6} -4 \ f \left (\frac{4\pi^2}{z}\right )\right )$$

So that we can remove the $-$ sign from the first equation to get for $\mathfrak{R}(z)>0$:

$$f(z)=\frac{1}{24} - \frac{1}{2z} + \frac{\pi^2}{z^2} \left ( \frac{1}{6} -4 \ f \left (\frac{4\pi^2}{z}\right )\right )$$

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  • $\begingroup$ It might help to multiply through by $z$ and define $g(z)=zf(z)$ Do you know anything about the behavior as $z \to 0?$ $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 23, 2017 at 21:01
  • $\begingroup$ @Ross Well, we know that for $\mathfrak{R}(z)=0$ the functional relationship does not hold. However, as $z \to 0^+$ the function diverges (I need to study how fast it does) $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 23, 2017 at 21:10
  • $\begingroup$ $\pi e^{-iz/2} f(e^{iz})$ (or something like that) is an even function plus a simple term, that's all what your functional equation says. $\endgroup$
    – reuns
    Commented Nov 24, 2017 at 0:38

1 Answer 1

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That formula puts no restrictions at all on your function on the half-plane $\Re(z) > 0$.

If you know $f(z_1)$ for some $z_1$ with $\Re(z_1) > 0$, then it tells you the value of $f(z_2)$ where $z_2 = \frac{-4\pi^2}{z_1}$. But $\Re(z_2) < 0$. And if you try to use the formula again, the new value is for $\frac{-4\pi^2}{z_2} = z_1$ (where it gives the same value for $f(z_1)$ that you started with).

So, you can choose any function $g$ on $\Re(z) > 0$, then define $$f(z) = \begin{cases} g(z) & \Re(z) > 0\\\frac{1}{24} - \frac{1}{2z} + \frac{\pi^2}{z^2} \left ( \frac{1}{6} -4 \ g \left(\frac{-4\pi^2}{z}\right )\right) & \Re(z) < 0\end{cases}$$ $f$ will be defined everywhere except the imaginary line and will satisfy your equation.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for your answer! And what about $f$ being not a piecewise-defined function? If that were possible, what information would we have about it? $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 24, 2017 at 7:37
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    $\begingroup$ "Piecewise-defined" is a not a class of functions. It is one way of expressing a function, but doesn't say anything in particular about the nature of the function itself. Every function satisfying your equation and defined everywhere but the imaginary axis will fit my description. (The functions can also be defined on the imaginary axis, except at 0 - I just didn't bother with those details, since you seem to be avoiding it in your post.) $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 24, 2017 at 13:43
  • $\begingroup$ That's true, I do not bother about the imaginary axis. However, I expected the result to be a smooth function with a closed form -I shouldn't have used the term "piecewise". $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 24, 2017 at 22:43
  • $\begingroup$ That is the point. Infinitely many nice smooth functions obey your equation. An even bigger infinity of nasty completely discontinous functions also obey your equation. The only thing your equation does is force behavior in $\Re z < 0$ to match whatever behavior is found for for $\Re z > 0$. It is no more restrictive than the condition of being odd or even. $\endgroup$ Commented Nov 25, 2017 at 0:09

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