Algebraic Analysis of Singular Perturbation Theory

Book excerpt: The topic of this book is the study of singular perturbations of ordinary differential equations, i.e., perturbations that represent solutions as asymptotic series rather than as analytic functions in a perturbation parameter. The main method used is the so-called WKB (Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin) method, originally invented for the study of quantum-mechanical systems. The authors describe in detail the WKB method and its applications to the study of monodromy problems for Fuchsian differential equations and to the analysis of Painleve functions. This volume is suitable for graduate students and researchers interested in differential equations and special functions.