Book on gamma functions with applications in Quantum Mech.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around finding resources, particularly books or papers, that cover gamma functions with applications in quantum mechanics. Participants express a need for materials that not only list integrals but also provide examples and practice problems relevant to physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions that their upcoming quantum mechanics course will focus on difficult integrals involving gamma functions and seeks recommendations for study materials.
  • Another participant suggests several references, including "Irresistible Integrals" by Boros and Moll, and "Inside Interesting Integrals" by Paul Nahin, noting that these may cover gamma and beta functions.
  • Some references from Gradshteyn and Ryzhik are mentioned, though their applicability to quantum mechanics is uncertain.
  • A participant offers their lecture notes on quantum field theory, which include a section on the gamma function and dimensional regularization.
  • Additional papers related to the gamma function are provided, including discussions on its properties and applications.
  • One participant acknowledges familiarity with Nahin's book and its applications.
  • Another participant shares a link to a document addressing the relationship between the gamma function and factorials.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants share various resources and references, but there is no consensus on a single recommended book or source that meets the initial request for comprehensive examples and practice problems specifically in quantum mechanics.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the level of the suggested materials and their direct relevance to quantum mechanics, indicating a potential gap in the resources available for the specific needs of the original poster.

Joker93
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I have heard that in my next semester, our quantum mechanics teacher will be giving a great emphasis on difficult integrals with the most of them having to do with gamma functions.

Does anybody know a book(or any other source) that I can learn about and practice gamma functions integration (with applications to physics and more preferably quantum mechanics if possible)?

The only thing I have found are books that just list the integrals of gamma functions in tables rather than having a few examples and them some practice problems.

Thank you!
 
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Here are some references I found out on reddit: (I don't know if that's advanced enough for your level)

Irresistible Integrals: Symbolics, Analysis and Experiments in the Evaluation of Integrals
, by George Boros and Victor Moll.
Chapter 11 deals with the Gamma and Beta functions.

Paul Nahin, Inside Interesting Integrals.
Pages 117-147 deals with the Gamma and Beta functions.

6.4 of Gradshteyn and Ryzhik are about the Gamma function, and

Special Integrals of Gradshteyn and Ryzhik: the Proofs - Volume I
by Victor H. Moll

has a section providing proofs of formulas in Gradshteyn and Ryzhik. (I'm not sure if anyone of them has applications in QM)
 
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Anama Skout said:
Here are some references I found out on reddit: (I don't know if that's advanced enough for your level)

Irresistible Integrals: Symbolics, Analysis and Experiments in the Evaluation of Integrals
, by George Boros and Victor Moll.
Chapter 11 deals with the Gamma and Beta functions.

Paul Nahin, Inside Interesting Integrals.
Pages 117-147 deals with the Gamma and Beta functions.

6.4 of Gradshteyn and Ryzhik are about the Gamma function, and

Special Integrals of Gradshteyn and Ryzhik: the Proofs - Volume I
by Victor H. Moll

has a section providing proofs of formulas in Gradshteyn and Ryzhik. (I'm not sure if anyone of them has applications in QM)
Thanks for the recommendations. I already know about Nahin's awesome book and I also know that it has some applications.
 
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Also anhttp://www.uni-graz.at/~gronau/TMCS_1_2003.pdf that attempts to answer: "Why is ##\Gamma(n)=(n-1)!## and not ##\Gamma(n)=n!##?"

Edit: Some other papers:
  • Wladimir de Azevedo Pribitkin, Laplace's Integral, the Gamma Function, and beyond, American Mathematical Monthly.
  • Gopala Krishna Srinivasan, The Gamma Function: An Eclectic Tour, American Mathematical Monthly.
  • Dorin Ervin Dutkay, Constantin P. Niculescu, Florin Popovici, Stirling’s Formula and Its Extension for the Gamma Function, American Mathematical Monthly.
 
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