The H and K Families of Mock Theta Functions

http://dx.doi.org/10.4153/CJM-2011-066-0
Canad. J. Math. 64(2012), 935-960

  Published:2011-10-05
 Printed: Aug 2012

In his last letter to Hardy, Ramanujan defined 17 functions $F(q)$, $|q|\lt 1$, which he called mock $\theta$-functions. He observed that as $q$ radially approaches any root of unity $\zeta$ at which $F(q)$ has an exponential singularity, there is a $\theta$-function $T_\zeta(q)$ with $F(q)-T_\zeta(q)=O(1)$. Since then, other functions have been found that possess this property. These functions are related to a function $H(x,q)$, where $x$ is usually $q^r$ or $e^{2\pi i r}$ for some rational number $r$. For this reason we refer to $H$ as a ``universal'' mock $\theta$-function. Modular transformations of $H$ give rise to the functions $K$, $K_1$, $K_2$. The functions $K$ and $K_1$ appear in Ramanujan's lost notebook. We prove various linear relations between these functions using Appell-Lerch sums (also called generalized Lambert series). Some relations (mock theta ``conjectures'') involving mock $\theta$-functions of even order and $H$ are listed.