In mathematics, the Lerch zeta function, sometimes called the Hurwitz–Lerch zeta-function, is a special function that generalizes the Hurwitz zeta function and the polylogarithm. It is named after the Czech mathematician Mathias Lerch [1].
The Lerch zeta function is given by
A related function, the Lerch transcendent, is given by
The two are related, as
An integral representation is given by
for
A contour integral representation is given by
for
where the contour must not enclose any of the points
A Hermite-like integral representation is given by
for
and
for
The Hurwitz zeta function is a special case, given by
The polylogarithm is a special case of the Lerch Zeta, given by
The Legendre chi function is a special case, given by
The Riemann zeta function is given by
The Dirichlet eta function is given by