Volume integral to spherical coords to contour integral

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the evaluation of a volume integral in momentum space, specifically transitioning to spherical coordinates and contour integrals. The original poster is working with an expression involving a three-dimensional integral and is trying to understand the transformations and simplifications involved in the process.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to understand the origin of a specific term in the integral and the reasoning behind the transformation from one line of the equation to another. Some participants question the nature of the variables involved and the symmetry that might simplify the expression.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the mathematical transformations involved in the integral, with some providing insights into potential methods for simplifying the expressions. There is a focus on clarifying the relationships between the variables and the implications of the transformations being applied.

Contextual Notes

The original poster mentions the context of comparing the first Born approximation with the transition matrix element in scattering theory, indicating a specific application in quantum field theory. There is also a note about the challenges faced with Fourier transforms, which may influence the discussion's direction.

sbh77
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Homework Statement


V(x) = \int \frac{d^3q}{(2\pi)^3} \frac{-g^2}{|\vec{q}|^2 + m^2} \exp^{i \vec{q} \cdot \vec{x}}

= -\frac{g^2}{4\pi^2} \int_0^{\infty} dq q^2 \frac{exp^{iqr}-exp^{-iqr}}{iqr} \frac{1}{q^2+m^2}

= \frac{-g^2}{4\pi^2 i r} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dq \frac{q exp^{iqr}}{q^2+m^2}


Homework Equations



none

The Attempt at a Solution



I understand how the measure changes to a single integral with a factor of 4\pi (integrating out the angles leaving the radial one) and I also know that a vector in spherical coordinates is represented just by a quantity in the radial direction. The problem I am having is I don't know where the term \frac{exp^{iqr}-exp^{-iqr}}{iqr} came from. It almost looks like sin but the "i" is in the denominator.

My last question is why does the second line become the third? I see the limits of integration are changed but why did the second exponential term disappear? Is it a symmetry thing?

Thanks!
 
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here it is in tex, just need the tags either side
V(x) = \int \frac{d^3q}{(2\pi)^3} \frac{-g^2}{|\vec{q}|^2 + m^2} e^{i \vec{q} \cdot \vec{x}}

= -\frac{g^2}{4\pi^2} \int_0^{\infty} dq q^2 \frac{e^{iqr}-e^{-iqr}}{iqr} \frac{1}{q^2+m^2}

= \frac{-g^2}{4\pi^2 i r} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dq \frac{q e^{iqr}}{q^2+m^2}
 
note 1/i = -i

can you decribe the problem a bit more, looks like an integral over momentum space?
what are x & r this problem?
 
also the 3rd line probably comes about by splitting the second line into a sum of 2 intergals and changing variables in one, q -> -q then recombining...
 
ah, my mistake, x and r are the same thing. I am just comparing the first Born approximation with that of the transition matrix element for two fermions scattering off of each other. By making this comparison it can be seen that the potential (in momentum space) is

V(q) = \frac{-g^2}{q^2+m^2} (sorry, I don't know what these tags are)

where "g" is the coupling constant in the Yukawa theory and m is the mass of the fermion. So I am just inverting this back to coordinate space. "q" is the momentum difference between the inbound and outbound fermion - along the propagator in a Feynman diagram.

Fourier transforms have never been my strong point! :)

Thanks again!
 

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