Integration of complex exponentials

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the integration of complex exponentials in the context of quantum field theory, specifically transforming the integral from a three-dimensional momentum space representation to a radial form. The initial integral, given by ##\frac{1}{(2\pi)^{3}}\int d^{3}p\ e^{-it\sqrt{{\bf{p}}^{2}+m^{2}}}\ e^{i {\bf{p}}({\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0})}##, is simplified to a radial integral involving sine functions and a factor of ##|{\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0}|##. Key steps include the decomposition of the momentum vector ##\bf{p}## into spherical coordinates and the application of Euler's relation to separate sine and cosine components, with the cosine component effectively canceling out during integration.

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I am trying to understand how to go from the first line to the next:

##\frac{1}{(2\pi)^{3}}\int d^{3}p\ e^{-it\sqrt{{\bf{p}}^{2}+m^{2}}}\ e^{i {\bf{p}}({\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0})} = \frac{1}{2\pi^{2}|{\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0}|} \int_{0}^{\infty} dp\ p\ sin(p|{\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0}|)\ e^{-it\sqrt{{p}^{2}+m^{2}}}##.

As an initial guess, I'm thinking that the vector ##\bf{p}## is decomposed in spherical polar coordinates, evidenced by the facts that ##\frac{1}{(2\pi)^{3}}## has been multiplied by ##4\pi## and that the volume element is afterwards ##dp\ p## with limits from ##0## from ##\infty##. Also, I'm thinking that firstly the exponential ##e^{i {\bf{p}}({\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0})}## is broken using Euler's relation into its sine and cosine components.

I wonder what's happened to the cosine component, the factor of ##i## in the sine component, how the polar and azimuthal angles have been separated out from the vector expression ##-it\sqrt{{\bf{p}}^{2}+m^{2}}## and how the factor of ##|{\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0}|## in the denominator outside the integral appears.
 
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failexam said:
I am trying to understand how to go from the first line to the next:

##\frac{1}{(2\pi)^{3}}\int d^{3}p\ e^{-it\sqrt{{\bf{p}}^{2}+m^{2}}}\ e^{i {\bf{p}}({\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0})} = \frac{1}{2\pi^{2}|{\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0}|} \int_{0}^{\infty} dp\ p\ sin(p|{\bf{x}}-{\bf{x}}_{0}|)\ e^{-it\sqrt{{p}^{2}+m^{2}}}##.
I can help with this bit:
how the polar and azimuthal angles have been separated out from the vector expression ##-it\sqrt{{\bf{p}}^{2}+m^{2}}##
The expression ##{\bf{p}}^{2}## is more correctly written ##\|\bf{p}\|^2##, which is equal to ##p^2##. Hence
##-it\sqrt{{\bf{p}}^{2}+m^{2}}## can simply be replaced by ##-it\sqrt{{p}^{2}+m^{2}}##

I wonder what's happened to the cosine component, the factor of ##i## in the sine component,
I think this will be something to do with the following:
Convert the integral into
$$\int_0^\infty \left[\int_{N_p} f(p,\phi,\theta) dA + \int_{S_p} f(p,\phi,\theta) dA\right]\,dp$$
where ##N_p## and ##S_p## are respectively the Northern and Southern hemispheres of the sphere of radius ##p##.
Then think about what cancels out between the two hemispheric integrals when you match antipodal points.
 

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