What is the relationship between cos(cosx) and Bessel functions?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between the integral of functions involving cosine, specifically the integral from -2π to 2π of (sin(2sinx) + cos(2cosx)dx), and its connection to Bessel functions. Participants explore various methods for evaluating the integral, including contour integration and numerical approaches, while also discussing properties of cosine functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes using contour integration to solve the integral but seeks further ideas on the approach.
  • Another notes that since cosine oscillates between -1 and 1, the function cos(2cos(x)) oscillates between -2 and 2, suggesting that the period of the function is π rather than 2π.
  • A different participant suggests rewriting the function as a shifted and scaled cosine wave, proposing to integrate over one period and then scale for the total range.
  • One participant presents an expression involving an integral of cos²(cos(ax)) and discusses deriving an ordinary differential equation (ODE) from it.
  • Several participants express confusion about the derivation of cos²(cos(ax)) and its relationship to Bessel functions, with one noting that the integral's answer is given in terms of Bessel functions.
  • There are repeated assertions that errors were made in earlier calculations, with references to Wolfram Alpha for verification.
  • One participant highlights that cos(cos(x)) relates to the real part of e^(ikr), which is defined in terms of Bessel functions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the evaluation of the integral or the derivation of the relationships discussed. Multiple competing views and uncertainties remain regarding the methods and results presented.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved mathematical steps and assumptions regarding the properties of cosine functions and their integrals. The discussion includes various interpretations of the relationships between the functions involved and Bessel functions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying advanced calculus, integral equations, or the applications of Bessel functions in mathematical physics.

Emmanuel_Euler
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Hi everyone, my friend challenged me to solve this definite integral...integral from -2pi to 2pi ((sin(2sinx)+cos(2cosx))dx, i proved by using definite integral properties that this integral equals to integral from -2pi to 2pi cos(2cosx)dx, can you give me any ideas how to solve this?? I know that i can use the contour integration but how??
 
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Note that cosine oscillates between -1 and 1, but you are taking cosine of 2cos, so you are taking cosine of a function which oscillates between -2 and +2. Since cosine is even, cos(x) is the same as cos(-x) so this new function has a period of pi, rather than 2pi. Analytically how to integrate cosine of cosine, I am not sure. You could do it numerically, for sure.
 
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Since it still has the shape of a cosine wave, just shifted up and scaled down, you should be able to rewrite it as something like A*cos(2*x) + B, where A and B are constants to be determined (by the max and min), then integrate that over 1 period, then do for how many periods in your range.
 
$$I = -4 \pi + 8 \int_{0}^{\pi}cos^2(cos(x))\, dx$$
and with Diff Under the Integral Sign we can get the ODE
$$\frac{\partial }{\partial a}\left ( \int_{0}^{\pi}cos^2(cos(ax))\, dx \right )=\frac{1-\pi\, sin^2(cos(a\pi))}{a}\, -\, \frac{1}{a} \int_{0}^{\pi}cos^2(cos(ax))\, dx$$
then you can solve for
$$\int_{0}^{\pi}cos^2(cos(ax))\, dx$$
and set a=1
 
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Ammmmm, I understand what you did, but please if you have the final answer give it to me...and thanks
 
Emmanuel_Euler said:
Ammmmm, I understand what you did, but please if you have the final answer give it to me...and thanks
wolfram alpha is your friend
 
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DrClaude said:
You made an error somewhere, since the answer is not the same as http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=integral+-2pi+to+2pi+cos(2+cos(x))

No the answer is right, 8 integral from(0>pi) (cos(cosx))^2-4pi=wolframalpha answer.
Ammmm the answer of the previous integral is given in terms of bessel function...interesting!
So there's a relationship between them...
 
I am not sure exactly where the cos²(cos(ax)) came from either. Cos(2u) is equal to cos²(u) - sin²(u) or 2cos²(u) - 1
 
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Emmanuel_Euler said:
No the answer is right, 8 integral from(0>pi) (cos(cosx))^2-4pi=wolframalpha answer.
Ammmm the answer of the previous integral is given in terms of bessel function...interesting!
So there's a relationship between them...
\cos(\cos(x)) is the real part of e^{ikr} which is the definition of the Bessel function...
 

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