Integral in terms of Gamma functions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around proving an integral equation involving Gamma functions and the Beta function, specifically focusing on the integral of the form \(\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}-1\right)\). Participants explore various approaches to evaluate this integral, considering the implications of the parameter \(d\) and its restrictions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express the need to prove the equation \(\frac{1}{d-1}-\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}-1\right)=-\frac{\sqrt{\pi} \Gamma(\frac{1-d}{2d})}{2d \Gamma(\frac{1}{2d})}\).
  • Others suggest that the right side resembles \(-\frac{\beta(\frac{1}{2},\frac{1-d}{2d})}{2d}\) and discuss the Beta function's definition.
  • Some participants are uncertain about how to derive the Beta function due to the presence of the \(\frac{1}{d-1}\) term.
  • A later reply proposes separating the integral into two parts to handle the divergent behavior of \(\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d}\) when \(d < 1\).
  • One participant mentions the need for regularization due to the singularity at \(y=0\) when \(d \geq 1\) and suggests introducing a cut-off.
  • Another participant discusses the limits and convergence of the integral, expressing confusion about how the manipulations yield a valid result for \(d > 1\).
  • One participant finds a solution using WolframAlpha, which provides an expression in terms of the hypergeometric function for the integral.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various viewpoints on how to approach the integral and its evaluation. There is no consensus on a single method or solution, and multiple competing views remain regarding the handling of the integral and the implications of the parameter \(d\).

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the integral diverges for \(d \geq 1\) and discuss the need for regularization techniques. There are also mentions of specific conditions under which certain terms may cancel or contribute to the overall evaluation.

ShayanJ
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Does anyone know how I can prove the following equation?

##\displaystyle \frac 1 {d-1}-\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac 1 {\sqrt{1-y^{2d}} }-1\right)=-\frac{\sqrt \pi \ \Gamma(\frac{1-d}{2d})}{2d \ \Gamma(\frac 1 {2d})} ##

Thanks
 
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ShayanJ said:
Does anyone know how I can prove the following equation?

##\displaystyle \frac 1 {d-1}-\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac 1 {\sqrt{1-y^{2d}} }-1\right)=-\frac{\sqrt \pi \ \Gamma(\frac{1-d}{2d})}{2d \ \Gamma(\frac 1 {2d})} ##

Thanks
the right side look like ##-\frac{\beta (\frac{1}{2},\frac{1-d}{2d})}{2d}##

and the beta function is $$\beta (x,y)=2\int_{0}^{\frac{\pi}{2}}cos^{2x-1}(\theta )\, sin^{2u-1}(\theta ) \, d\theta $$

the part of ##\frac{1}{y^{d}\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}## could be transfor of the trigonometric identity
 
I'm not quite sure how to get to the Beta function specially with that ## \frac 1 {d-1} ## term being there.
 
ShayanJ said:
I'm not quite sure how to get to the Beta function specially with that ## \frac 1 {d-1} ## term being there.
Try to separate the integral in 2 , and solve the part of ##y^{-d}## then the ## \frac 1 {d-1} ## Are canceled.
With the integral you have
$$\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d \sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}$$

you can do a symple trigonometric substitution.

note:
when you solve the integral
$$\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^{d }}$$
you has to restrict ##d<1##
 
Your solution is reasonable but I'm trying to go through the calculations of a paper and in the context of that paper, this solution doesn't work. Actually the result is the same, but it shouldn't be, and that's confusing!
I should calculate the integral ## \displaystyle \int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}} ##. d is the number of spatial dimensions and so clearly it can't be smaller than 1 and so the integrand has a singularity at 0. So we need to regularize the integral by introducing a cut-off like below:

## \displaystyle \int_{\varepsilon}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d \sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}= \int_{\varepsilon}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d}+\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac 1{\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}-1 \right) ##

The second integral doesn't use the cut-off because its not divergent(I don't know how to figure that out but the author says so!). Then the first integral gives two terms, one is the ## \frac 1 {d-1} ## in the OP, and the other is a term that depends on the cut-off. But if we calculate the second integral by separating its two terms, we're just undoing all the things we've done before. So there should be a different way of doing it. But the confusing thing is that the result is the same as you say, so I'm confused!

EDIT:
Page 33 of this paper and section 7.1.1 of this paper.
 
Last edited:
Let's start with

$$-\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d \sqrt{1-y^{2d}}} =-\frac{\sqrt \pi \ \Gamma(\frac{1-d}{2d})}{2d \ \Gamma(\frac 1 {2d})}$$

this is true for d<1 , but you need a d >1 .
so we do a cut-off and we get
$$\displaystyle \int_{\varepsilon}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d \sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}= \int_{\varepsilon}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d}+\int_\varepsilon^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac 1{\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}-1 \right)$$

then we apply a limit
$$\lim_{\varepsilon\rightarrow 0\, }\displaystyle \int_{\varepsilon}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d \sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}= \lim_{\varepsilon\rightarrow 0\, } \int_{\varepsilon}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d}+ \lim_{\varepsilon\rightarrow 0\, }\int_\varepsilon^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac 1{\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}-1 \right)$$

i don't know about convergence methods of integrals or continuous convergence or anything like that (im a high school student)
so suppose that the second integral its fine and converges, we get
$$\int_{0}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d \sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}= \lim_{\varepsilon\rightarrow 0\, } \int_{\varepsilon}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d}+ \int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac 1{\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}-1 \right)$$

solving:

$$\int_{0}^1 \frac{dy}{y^d \sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}= \lim_{\varepsilon\rightarrow 0\, } \frac{1}{\varepsilon^{d-1} (d-1) }-\frac{1}{d-1}+ \int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac 1{\sqrt{1-y^{2d}}}-1 \right)$$

then if d>1 and we apply the limit we get a divergent result, i don't understand how it works.

i guess that adding and substract the ##y^{-d}## term is just a "trick" that make the result
$$
\displaystyle \frac 1 {d-1}-\int_0^1 \frac{dy}{y^d} \left( \frac 1 {\sqrt{1-y^{2d}} }-1\right)=-\frac{\sqrt \pi \ \Gamma(\frac{1-d}{2d})}{2d \ \Gamma(\frac 1 {2d})}$$

valid for d>1 , i don't know about make things rigorous so I'm sorry that I can not help you

edit: When you find out how it works, I'd appreciate it if you could tell me =D
 
I got it!
Wolframalpha gives an expression in terms of the hypergeometric function for the integral ## \int \frac {dy}{y^d}\left( \frac 1 {\sqrt{1-y^{2*d}}}-1\right) ##. Then using the formula(16) in this page, everything falls into place.
 
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