Aysmptotics : Need help with residues

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the calculation of residues in complex analysis, particularly in relation to the Riemann zeta function and the Gamma function. Participants explore methods for finding residues at poles, including simple and double poles, and the implications of these calculations in the context of analytic continuation and the properties of these functions.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about methods for calculating residues, specifically referencing a formula involving the zeta and Gamma functions.
  • Another participant explains that the residue at a simple pole can be found as the limit of a function multiplied by the distance to the pole.
  • Discussion includes the specific case of the zeta function having a simple pole at s=1 and the analytic nature of the Gamma function at that point.
  • A participant questions how to handle double poles, suggesting different approaches for calculating residues depending on whether functions are multiplied or added.
  • Different methods for calculating residues are presented, including the Laurent series expansion and a limit-based approach for higher-order poles.
  • Participants discuss the poles of the zeta function and Gamma function, noting the divergence of the harmonic series and the implications for the zeta function's poles.
  • There is mention of the analytic continuation of the zeta function and the Gamma function, with references to their definitions and properties.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various methods for calculating residues, but there is no consensus on the best approach for double poles or the implications of combining functions with different types of poles. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of handling these cases.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference the properties of the zeta and Gamma functions, including their poles and analytic continuations, but there are no definitive conclusions drawn about the implications of these properties on residue calculations.

saint_n
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Hey
Is there a method in calculating the residues.
Getting the poles is easy but i really don't know how my lecturer gets the residues
eg. 1/2(Zeta*Gamma[s/2]
where at s = 1 it is Sqrt[Pi]/2 etc
how does he do it?
 
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The residue is just the coefficient of the 1/(z-z0) term in the Taylor series expansion of the function about the pole.
 
If f(s) has a simple pole at s=a, then it's residue at a is \lim_{s\rightarrow a}(s-a)f(s)

\zeta (s) has a simple pole at s=1, actually \zeta (s)=\frac{1}{s-1}+O(1) near s=1. \Gamma (s/2) is analytic at s=1, so their product has a simple pole. To find their residue, just look at the above limit. You'll also need to know that \Gamma(1/2)=\sqrt{\pi}, which comes easily from the identity \Gamma(s)\Gamma(1-s)=\frac{\pi}{\sin{\pi s}}.
 
ok I am starting to get it,,but what's happens if its a double pole.Do you work out the residues for both functions and multiply the 2 residues together or does it depend eg GammaZeta[1-s] so the pole would be at 0.
Since the Gamma fn and the Zeta are multiplied together you multiply the residues together??
and if Gamma+Zeta[1-s] then we add the residues together??
Isnt there an expansion of the Gamma and Zeta Functions
because all i know,if you integrate e^(-x)*x^(s-1) with respect to x you get the gamma fn and Summing from 1 to infinity of k^(-s) equal the Zeta function.Thats why i never understood why the Zeta fn has poles at 1 and Gamma fn has poles at 0,-1,-2,-3,...
 
There are different methods for calculating residues.
Let z_0 be a pole of f.

One way is to the coefficient of z^{-1} in the Laurent expansion of f(z) at z_0, like Tide said. The residue is equal to that coefficient.

Another way is:
Res(f,z_0)=\lim_{z\rightarrow z_0}\frac{[(z-z_0)^kf(z)]^{(k-1)}}{(k-1)!}
where k is the order of the pole. (the (k-1) up in the numerator means taking the (k-1)th derivative of the numerator).
To find the order, use:
\lim_{z\rightarrow z_0}(z-z_0)^mf(z)=\left\{ \begin{array}{ll}b_k & m=k\\0 & m>k \\ \infty & m<k \end{array} \right.
Where b_k is the coefficient of z^{-k} in the Laurent expansion of f.
The second method is easy when the order of the pole is low (1 or 2).
 
Last edited:
saint_n said:
Thats why i never understood why the Zeta fn has poles at 1 and Gamma fn has poles at 0,-1,-2,-3,...

\zeta(s)=\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}n^{-s}
for real part s>1. Since the harmonic series,
\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}n^{-1}
diverges, zeta must have a pole at s=1. Have you seen any proofs of the analytic continuation of zeta? Anyone of them should make it clear that it has no other poles.


If you define the Gamma function the "integral way", you have
\Gamma(s)=\int_{0}^{\infty}e^{-x}x^{s-1}dx
valid for all complex s with real part >0, then by analytic continuation via
\frac{1}{s}\Gamma(s+1)=\Gamma(s)
The integral part shows handily you have no poles in the right half plane (it also diverges if you tried to stick s=0 in). Think about \Gamma(0) you're going to try to evaluate
\frac{\Gamma(s+1)}{s}
at s=0, hence you get a pole, since \Gamma(1)=1\neq 0. This pole cascades through all the negative integers by the functional equation.
 

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