Help with simplifying an integral

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter TroyElliott
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Integral Simplifying
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the simplification of an integral as presented in equation (1.8) of a mathematical context. Participants are examining the implications of changing variables in the integral, particularly focusing on the role of the variable "v" and its potential to become imaginary, which may affect the limits of integration.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how the variable "v" disappears in equation (1.8) and suggests it should be cos(z*sinh(u+v)) instead of cos(z*sinh(u)).
  • Another participant proposes changing variables from u+v to u and u-v to u, asserting that "v" is constant with respect to the integration variable.
  • Some participants emphasize that the integral of an even function leads to a specific relationship between the integrals over symmetric limits.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of "v" potentially being imaginary, suggesting that this could introduce additional imaginary terms to the limits of integration.
  • One participant clarifies that while "u" and "v" are real in some contexts, "v" can become imaginary inside the light cone, complicating the integration process.
  • Another participant notes that different equations may apply depending on whether "z" is real or imaginary.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the treatment of the variable "v," particularly regarding its potential to become imaginary and its implications for the integral. There is no consensus on how to resolve the issues raised about the limits of integration and the nature of the variables involved.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight that the discussion involves complex analysis concepts, and there are unresolved questions about the assumptions regarding the nature of "v" and its impact on the integral's limits.

TroyElliott
Messages
58
Reaction score
3
TL;DR
Stuck on some algebra within an integral.
I am not seeing how the v goes away in the third equal sign of equation (1.8). It seems to be that it must be cos(z*sinh(u+v)), not cos(z*sinh(u)).
In the defined equations (1.7), the variable "v" can become imaginary, so a simple change of variables would change the integration sign by adding an imaginary term - not what occurs in (1.8). Any idea on how to get the third line of (1.8)?

Thanks for any insight!
stuck.png
 
Physics news on Phys.org
In order to get the third line in Eq. (1.8) change variables ##u+v\mapsto u## and ##u-v\mapsto u##.
Since ##v## is constant with respect to the integration varible ##du = d(u\pm v)##, and also don't forget that integral of an even function ##f(x)=f(-x)## leads to ##\int_{-a}^a f(x)dx= 2\int_0^a f(x)dx##.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: anuttarasammyak
MathematicalPhysicist said:
In order to get the third line in Eq. (1.8) change variables ##u+v\mapsto u## and ##u-v\mapsto u##.
Since ##v## is constant with respect to the integration varible ##du = d(u\pm v)##, and also don't forget that integral of an even function ##f(x)=f(-x)## leads to ##\int_{-a}^a f(x)dx= 2\int_0^a f(x)dx##.

But, in this case, doesn’t it matter than ##v## can potentially become an imaginary number, and the limits of the integral would no longer be just infinity? We would get an added imaginary term to the limit, e.g. ##\infty + 2\pi i##.

More explicitly, ##v= arcsinh(\frac{mc^{2}t}{hz}),## where ##z## is given in Eq.(1.7). We see that inside the light cone, ##z## becomes imaginary. So ##v## would also become imaginary, in this case. When performing the change of variables, the integration bound would now pick up an additional imaginary piece. This is what I am confused about - how can it still just be ##\infty##?
 
Last edited:
u and v are both real and v is constant as for integration of u.
\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} du = \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} d(u+v)
or so.
 
MathematicalPhysicist said:
In order to get the third line in Eq. (1.8) change variables ##u+v\mapsto u## and ##u-v\mapsto u##.
Since ##v## is constant with respect to the integration varible ##du = d(u\pm v)##, and also don't forget that integral of an even function ##f(x)=f(-x)## leads to ##\int_{-a}^a f(x)dx= 2\int_0^a f(x)dx##.
anuttarasammyak said:
u and v are both real and v is constant as for integration of u.
\int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} du = \int_{-\infty}^{+\infty} d(u+v)
or so.
But we see in Eq.(1.7), that inside the light cone, ##v## can become imaginary.
 
It seems that (1.8) is for real z with u and v real, and (1.9) is for imaginary z.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: TroyElliott
TroyElliott said:
But we see in Eq.(1.7), that inside the light cone, ##v## can become imaginary.
Such a calculation is done in a course in complex analysis; I don't recall the details, sorry.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: TroyElliott

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K