On the tau function of the hypergeometric equation

Abstract: The monodromy map for a rank-two system of differential equations with three Fuchsian singularities is classically solved by the Kummer formul\ae\ for Gauss' hypergeometric functions. We define the tau-function of such a system as the generating function of the extended monodromy symplectomorphism, using an idea recently developed. This formulation allows us to determine the dependence of the tau-function on the monodromy data. Using the explicit solution of the monodromy problem, the tau-function is then explicitly written in terms of Barnes $G$-function. In particular, if the Fuchsian singularities are placed to $0$, $1$ and $\infty$, this gives the structure constants of the asymptotical formula of Iorgov-Gamayun-Lisovyy for solutions of Painlev\'e VI equation.