Classical Apéry-Like Series and Their Cyclotomic Parametric Analogues via Contour Integration

Abstract: In this paper, we present a method based on contour integration to investigate a class of cyclotomic parametric Apéry-like series. The general term of such series involves a parametric central binomial coefficient, which is defined via the Gamma function. Using this approach, we express a family of cyclotomic Apéry-like series in terms of multiple polylogarithms, cyclotomic Hurwitz zeta values, Riemann zeta values and $\log(2)$. In particular, we provide several illustrative examples and corollaries, which enable us to recover a number of known results on Apéry-like series. At the same time, we have also left open two questions regarding Apéry-like series. Moreover, by considering integrals of the generating function for Fuss-Catalan numbers, we derive an alternative expression for a classical Apéry-like series. Combining this with known results allows us to establish several identities for multiple polylogarithm functions.