Integral: Solve Difficult Physics Problem

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a specific integral involving the 0th Bessel function of the first kind, which is part of a physics problem. The original poster expresses concern about the complexity of the integral's solution and questions whether there is a simpler method to evaluate it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants suggest using an integral representation of the Bessel function and consider switching the order of integration. Others propose differentiating with respect to a variable to simplify the integral. The original poster questions if they might have made an error in their earlier work.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with various approaches being explored. Some participants have offered potential methods to tackle the integral, while the original poster remains uncertain about their initial steps and the complexity of the solution.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is tasked with graphing the integral, which adds to their concern about its complexity. There is an implication that the integral's solution may not align with expectations for a typical homework problem.

Matterwave
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Hey guys, I am actually solving a physics problem, and at the last step of my solution, I encounter this integral:

[tex]\int_0^{k_F} k^2J_0(k|\vec{r}'-\vec{r}|)dk[/tex]

The J is the 0th Bessel function of the 1st kind. I tried this on Wolfram alpha, and it gave me the integral in terms of other Bessel functions and Struve functions. I don't think my professor would have given me an integral that had such an elaborate solution (especially since I'm asked to graph this). Am I missing something basic here? Is there an easy way to evaluate this integral? If not, I probably did something wrong somewhere earlier.
 
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I don't know if this'll work, but perhaps you can use an integral representation of the Bessel function and then use some trick like switching the order of integration to get an answer.
 
You would perhaps differentiate w.r.t. r and see in it reveals anything that will make the integral easier.
 
Maple also gets an answer in terms of Bessel and Struve functions.

RGV
 
Yea...I probably did something wrong >.>
 

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