Integrating Functions with Double Poles: A Contour Integral Approach

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Ancient_Nomad
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Integrating Poles
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around integrating functions that have a branch point and a double pole on the x-axis, specifically focusing on the integral involving a logarithmic function and a double pole at x = -2. Participants explore various methods, including contour integration and integration by parts, to evaluate the integral.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about integrating a function with a branch point and a double pole, presenting the specific integral to evaluate.
  • Another participant suggests that integration by parts might be a viable approach, mentioning potential complications due to the pole at the origin and proposing a substitution to simplify the integral.
  • A later reply indicates that the suggested method worked for them, yielding a specific result, but expresses a desire to also find a solution using contour integration.
  • Further clarification is provided regarding the use of a keyhole contour to evaluate the integral, with a focus on separating real and imaginary parts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best method for solving the integral, as multiple approaches are discussed, and some methods are found to work while others are still under consideration.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention complications arising from the presence of a double pole and a branch point, as well as the need to handle limits carefully when approaching the integral.

Ancient_Nomad
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
Hi,

Can someone tell me how to integrate functions which have a branch point and a pole (of order > 1) on the x-axis.
Specifically, I ran into the following problem while playing around with contour integrals, which has a double pole at x = -2 . I tried to do this with a keyhole contour, but that doesn't work out, as the integrals over the horizontal lines cancel out.

[tex]\int^{\inf}_0 \frac{ln(x)}{(x+2)^2}\, dx[/tex]

Thanks.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I don't know how to make the contour approach work either. It could be that integration by parts might work, but the origo seems to produce some problems. If the integration is first restricted to [itex][\epsilon,\infty[[/itex], one could substitute

[tex] \frac{\log(x)}{(x+2)^2} = -D_x \frac{\log(x)}{x+2} + \frac{1}{x(x+2)},[/tex]

work out the integrals (I didn't do the details yet, but it looks like a simple exercise at quick glance), and then try to deal with the limit [itex]\epsilon\to 0[/itex].
 
Thanks for the reply. I worked it out using the way you suggested. It comes out correctly and easily. But I would still like to find a way using contour integration.

For those who are interested,
the answer is [tex]\frac{ln(2)}{2}[/tex] .

Edit:

The given integral can be found by solving the following integral over a keyhole contour, and dividing the complete integral into real and imaginary parts.

[tex]\oint_C \frac{(ln(z))^2}{(z+2)^2} \, dz[/tex]
 
Last edited:
Ancient_Nomad said:
Edit:

The given integral can be found by solving the following integral over a keyhole contour, and dividing the complete integral into real and imaginary parts.

[tex]\oint_C \frac{(ln(z))^2}{(z+2)^2} \, dz[/tex]

Ok, so it worked. Nice. Please post some details here.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
3K