Accurate Approximations for the Complex Error Function with Small Imaginary Argument


  •  S. Abrarov    
  •  B. M. Quine    

Abstract

In this paper we present two efficient approximations for the complex error function $w \left( {z} \right)$ with small imaginary argument $\operatorname{Im}{\left[ { z } \right]} < < 1$ over the range $0 \le \operatorname{Re}{\left[ {z} \right]} \le 15$ that is commonly considered difficult for highly accurate and rapid computation. These approximations are expressed in terms of the Dawson\text{'}s integral $F\left( x \right)$ of real argument $x$ that enables their efficient implementation in a rapid algorithm. The error analysis we performed using the random numbers $x$ and $y$ reveals that in the real and imaginary parts the average accuracy of the first approximation exceeds ${10^{-9}}$ and ${10^{-14}}$, while the average accuracy of the second approximation exceeds ${10^{-13}}$ and ${10^{-14}}$, respectively. The first approximation is slightly faster in computation. However, the second approximation provides excellent high-accuracy coverage over the required domain.


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