Integration leading to ERFI solutions

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on normalizing a wave function through the integration of the expression ##\int A^2*e^{(\lambda^2x^2)} dx## from -∞ to +∞. The user attempted this integration using Wolfram Alpha and inquired about the removal of the inverse error function (erfi) from the solution. It was established that the condition for the absence of the erfi is when the real part of ##\lambda^2## is less than zero, allowing for the substitution of ##\lambda=i C## to simplify the integration process.

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I am attempting to normalize a wave function and need to integrate ##\int A^2*e^{(\lambda^2x^2)} dx## going from -inf to +inf. I tried to integrate this on Wolfram Alpha and this was the result. Upon integrating with the parameters the solution is as such. How does the erfi get removed? Do I need to be familiar with the Dawson function?

Thank you for any help!
 
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If you look at the condition for the case when there is no inverse error function (erfi) you'll see that they require
$$Re(\lambda^2)<0$$

This means that we can choose ##\lambda=i C## (for simplicity).

Do you see what happens in that case?
 

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