Abstract
DR. W. N. BAILEY, Richardson lecturer in pure mathematics in the University of Manchester, has been appointed to the University chair of mathematics at Bedford College, London. He is perhaps best known for his work on the theory of generalized hypergeometric series; much of this was incorporated in his Cambridge 'tract' on this subject, an excellent booklet which makes pleasant reading. To him are due two new methods of obtaining transformations of such series; one is algebraic and the other uses contour integrals of Barnes' type. These methods led to various generalizations in the theory, and applications were made to Bessel functions and Legendre functions. Some of his most important work in this field concerned infinite integrals in which the integrand involved the product of three Bessel functions. The argument used an earlier result of his, that Appelis' hypergeometric function of two variables could in a particular case be expressed as a product of two ordinary hypergeometric functions. This case has since been of use to other writers and has led to new researches. His most recent work, which is in process of publication, is on the problem of finding transformations of hypergeometric series of both the ordinary and the basic type. Previously, no general method of obtaining transformations of basic series had been given. His new point of view has led to new transformations of basic series, thrown further light upon them and has also led to numerous identities of the Rogers-Ramanujan type.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mathematics at Bedford College, London: Appointment of Dr. W. N. Bailey. Nature 154, 265–266 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1038/154265d0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/154265d0