Solving Puzzle of Limit of Integral: $\frac{2e^{-i\alpha x}}{1+\alpha^2}$?

Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of a limit involving an integral and its relation to eigenfunctions and eigenvalues in the context of functional analysis. The original poster is exploring the limit of a specific expression involving exponential functions and absolute values, questioning whether it simplifies to a known form related to an eigenvalue problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the nature of the limits involved, with some suggesting that the expression may be undefined due to the form of the limits. Others describe their attempts to derive the expression through eigenvalue equations and integral evaluations, questioning the correctness of their methods and results.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing insights and alternative approaches to the integral in question. Some have offered guidance on how to handle the integral more effectively, while others are still grappling with the implications of their findings and the potential for errors in their calculations.

Contextual Notes

There are indications of confusion regarding the interpretation of absolute values in integrals, and some participants express uncertainty about the limits involved in the original expression. The original poster also notes a transition to a new integral problem, indicating a shift in focus within the discussion.

TOKAMAK
Messages
42
Reaction score
0
This isn't really homework for a class, but i figured this would be the most appropriate place for this question:
What would this quantity be?
[tex]\lim_{t \rightarrow \infty} e^{-i \alpha |x - t|} \cdot (|x -t| - 1) - \lim_{t \rightarrow - \infty} e^{-i \alpha |x - t|} \cdot (|x -t| - 1) = ?[/tex]

It looks to me like it is just zero, but I was hoping it would be:
[tex]\frac{2e^{-i \alpha x}}{1 + \alpha^2}[/tex]

where [tex]\alpha[/tex] is a real number, since this was the last step in proving that
[tex]f(t) = e^{-i \alpha t}[/tex]

is an eigenfunction of the kernel:
[tex]K(x,t) = e^{-i \alpha |x - t|}[/tex]

with an eigenvalue:
[tex]\lambda = \frac{2}{1 + \alpha^2}[/tex]

Perhaps I solved my integral wrong or made a mistake somewhere.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The quantity looks to be undefined. It looks to be of the form Y - Z, where Y and Z are themselves undefined, so clearly their difference is undefined. Each of the limits are themselves undefined because they are the limits of products of two functions, one of which is period, the other which goes to infinity.
 
Well, here's how I got there anyway:
I figured I could start with the eigenvalue equation:
[tex]\hat{K} |f \rangle = \lambda |f \rangle[/tex]

Then I projected into position space:
[tex]\langle x| \hat{K} |f \rangle = \lambda \langle x|f \rangle[/tex]

Threw in an identity operator:
[tex]\langle x| \hat{K} (\int^{\infty}_{- \infty} dt |t \rangle \langle t|)|f \rangle = \lambda \langle x|f \rangle[/tex]

Which simplifies to:
[tex]\int^{\infty}_{- \infty} dt \cdot K(x,t) \cdot f(t) = \lambda \cdot f(x)[/tex]

So then I just plugged in:
[tex]\int^{\infty}_{- \infty} dt \cdot e^{-|x - t|} \cdot e^{-i \alpha t} = \frac{2e^{-i \alpha x}}{1 + \alpha^2}[/tex]

This leaves me with the problem of trying to find that integral, namely:
[tex]\int^{\infty}_{- \infty} dt \cdot e^{-|x - t|} \cdot e^{-i \alpha t}[/tex]

I put this into Integrals.com and got this back:
[tex]\frac{|x -t| e^{-i (|x -t| + \alpha t)}}{(x - t)} |^{\infty}_{- \infty}[/tex]

That's where the limit came from anyway.

Oh whoops, forgot to put this into the function above:
[tex]|x - t|[/tex]
 
Last edited:
I don't think Integrals.com interpreted the absolute values correctly (if it uses Maple language, use abs(x) for |x|).

Anyway, better do the integral yourself. Make a change of variable u=x-t and split the integral into two parts, one where u>0 and u<0 (or x-t>0 and x-t<0 respectively).
 
Okay, so I was able to solve the first integral I posted. Now I have another integral (arising from a kernal operating on an eigenfunction):

[tex]\int^{\infty}_{0} dt \frac{t \sin{xt}}{a^{2} + t^{2}}[/tex]

Not sure how to go about doing this one; doesn't look like integration by parts will work, and looking through a table of integrals didn't really help at all. I'm thinking I'll need to use residues for this (I guess this would be a good time to relearn how to do that).
 

Similar threads

Replies
32
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K