The symbol has at least two different meanings in mathematics. It can refer to a special function related to Bessel functions, or (written either with a capital or lower-case "K"), it can denote a kernel.
The function is defined as the real part of
(1)
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where is a modified Bessel function of the second kind. Therefore
(2)
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where is the real part.
It is implemented in the Wolfram Language as KelvinKer[nu, z].
has a complicated series given by Abramowitz and Stegun (1972, p. 379).
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The special case is commonly denoted and has the plot shown above. has the series expansion
(3)
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where is the digamma function (Abramowitz and Stegun 1972, p. 380).
"ker" is also an abbreviation for "group kernel" of a group homomorphism.