In
mathematics
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...
, specifically the theory of
elliptic functions
In the mathematical field of complex analysis, elliptic functions are special kinds of meromorphic functions, that satisfy two periodicity conditions. They are named elliptic functions because they come from elliptic integrals. Those integrals are ...
, the nome is a
special function
Special functions are particular mathematical functions that have more or less established names and notations due to their importance in mathematical analysis, functional analysis, geometry, physics, or other applications.
The term is defined by ...
that belongs to the non-elementary functions. This function is of great importance in the description of the elliptic functions, especially in the description of the modular identity of the
Jacobi theta function
In mathematics, theta functions are special functions of several complex variables. They show up in many topics, including Abelian varieties, moduli spaces, quadratic forms, and solitons. Theta functions are parametrized by points in a tube do ...
, the
Hermite elliptic transcendents and the
Weber modular functions, that are used for solving equations of higher degrees.
Definition
The nome function is given by
:
where
and
are the
quarter period
In mathematics, the quarter periods ''K''(''m'') and i''K'' ′(''m'') are special functions that appear in the theory of elliptic functions.
The quarter periods ''K'' and i''K'' ′ are given by
:K(m)=\int_0^ \frac
and
:K'(m ...
s, and
and
are the
fundamental pair of periods, and
is the
half-period ratio. The nome can be taken to be a function of any one of these quantities; conversely, any one of these quantities can be taken as functions of the nome. Each of them uniquely determines the others when