Why Can't I Use Jordan's Lemma to Compute This Improper Integral?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the application of Jordan's Lemma to compute the improper integral of the function \( f(z) = \frac{\exp(-|z|)}{(a^2+z^2)} \) for \( a > 0 \). The user, Cyril Fischer, questions the inability to apply Jordan's Lemma despite the function being finite and continuous for \( |z| > a \) and vanishing as \( z \to \infty \). The key issue identified is the lack of differentiability at \( z = 0 \), which complicates the use of contour integration in this scenario. The discussion highlights the necessity of checking the uniform convergence of \( zg(z) \) to validate the application of Jordan's Lemma.

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cyril14
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Why I cannot use Jordan lemma to compute improper integral

[tex]\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(z) \hbox{\ d}(z)[/tex]

of a function like

[tex]f(z)=\frac{\exp(-|z|)}{(a^2+z^2)} \mbox{\ for } a>0[/tex]

Such a function is finite and continuous for [tex]|z|>a[/tex] and [tex]z f(z)[/tex] vanishes for [tex]z \to \infty[/tex].

I know, that this function is not differentiable in z=0, but it seems to me that this is not a cause of problems, as there exists contour integral along the upper half-circle around the origin, and its limit for vanishing diameter is 0.

Can somebody explain me why I cannot use Jordan lemma in this case?

Thanks in advance,
Cyril Fischer
 
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Have you checked whether the convergence of ##zg(z)## is uniformly?
 

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