Asymptotics of q-difference equations

In this paper we develop an asymptotic analysis for formal and actual solutions of q-difference equations, under a regularity assumption. In particular, evaluations of regular solutions of regular q-difference equations have an exponential growth rate which can be computed from the q-difference equation. The motivation for the paper comes from the Hyperbolic Volume Conjecture, which states that a specific evaluation of the colored Jones function has an exponential growth rate, which is proportional to the volume of the knot complement. The connection of the Hyperbolic Volume Conjecture with the paper comes from the fact that the colored Jones function of a knot is a solution of a q-difference equation, as was proven by T.T.Q. Le and the author. Updated references. To appear in the JAMI Proceedings, Contemporary Math, AMS.