Lebesgue Integral of Dirac Delta "function"

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Lebesgue measurability and integrability of a function defined as f(x) = +∞ if x = 0 and f(x) = 0 if x ≠ 0. Participants explore whether this "function" can be considered Lebesgue measurable and whether its Lebesgue integral exists, delving into the implications of treating it as a function versus a distribution.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question the validity of defining a function that takes the value +∞ at a single point, suggesting it may not be well-defined in the context of real-valued functions.
  • Others argue that the function is Lebesgue measurable because it equals 0 almost everywhere, and thus its integral could be considered as 0.
  • Some participants note that in measure theory, the product of infinity and zero can yield zero under certain conditions, but this leads to contradictions when applied to the Dirac delta function.
  • A few contributions emphasize that the Dirac delta function is better treated as a distribution or a Stieltjes integral rather than a traditional function.
  • There are discussions about the implications of using +∞ in the context of Lebesgue integration and whether it can be treated as a representative value in integrals.
  • Some participants highlight that while Lebesgue integration allows for infinite-valued functions, this does not imply that +∞ is part of the real numbers.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the treatment of the function, with some agreeing on its measurability and others contesting its definition as a function. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of treating +∞ in this context and whether the integral can be defined meaningfully.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations in the definitions and assumptions regarding Lebesgue measurability and the treatment of functions that take on infinite values. The discussion reflects a range of interpretations and applications of measure theory principles.

  • #31
lightarrow said:
Thanks for the link, I'll certainly will watch it. My initial question has been motivated from the fact a physics teacher stated that the Dirac Delta distribution is the only correct way of doing the integral, from - oo to +oo, of:

f(x) = 0, if x is different fro 0
f(x) = +oo if x =0

(and up to here I certainly agree with him)

/because the lebesgue integral of f(x) is zero/.

I replied to him that f(0) = +oo is meaningless (even in the codomain - oo +oo) and it's this the /first/ reason why the lebesgue integral of that f(x) cannot give the right answer.
If I "approximate" f(x) with the functions

f_n(x) = k*n for -1/n < x < 1/n
f_n(x) = 0 else

I get k as integral.
If I approximate f(x) with

g_n(x) = n^2 for -1/n < x < 1/n
g_n(x) = 0 else
I get +oo.

If I use:
h_n(x) = sqrt(n) for -1/n < x < 1/n
h_n(x) = 0 else
I get 0.

So, to me, it's impossibile to do the lebesgue integral of f(x) without precisly specifing what "f(0) = +oo" means. Or, the Lebesgue integral simply cannot be computed.

--
lightarrow
Still, this is better and more rigorous than what I did , but you still do not get an actual value of 0 unless you extend continuously. You can also redefine , e.g., ##f(x)=1/x## so that ##f(0)= +\infty##
 
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  • #32
WWGD said:
Still, this is better and more rigorous than what I did , but you still do not get an actual value of 0 unless you extend continuously. You can also redefine , e.g., ##f(x)=1/x## so that ##f(0)= +\infty##
Ok, I can also take ##f_n(x) = (n/\sqrt(\pi)) exp[-(nx)^2]##

--
lightarrow
 
  • #33
lightarrow said:
Ok, I can also take ##f_n(x) = (n/\sqrt(\pi)) exp[-(nx)^2]##

--
lightarrow
Sorry, don't see it here, ##f_n(0)=\frac {n}{\sqrt{\pi}} ##. My point is that , you can use sequential continuity in order to define ##f_n(0)##, and do not define it explicitly; just a (relatively minor) point.
 
  • #34
Thanks to every one for the answers.

--
lightarrow
 

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