q-exponential and q-gamma functions. I. q-exponential functions

Some properties of the q-exponential functions, standard and symmetric, are investigated for general complex nonzero q. In particular, for |q| ≠ 1, the asymptotic behavior of the q-exponential functions of a complex argument z is studied as z approaches ∞ through an infinite geometric sequence {z = qζ} of complex numbers with common ratio q. A generalized q-exponential function is defined and some of its properties are also discussed for q ≠ 0 (including the singular case of q a root of unity, or, more generally, |q| = 1)