B2.18

Methods of Mathematical Physics | Part II, 2002

Show that

P∫−∞∞tz−1t−adt=πiaz−1,\mathcal{P} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \frac{t^{z-1}}{t-a} d t=\pi i a^{z-1},

where aa is real and positive, 0<Re⁡(z)<10<\operatorname{Re}(z)<1 and P\mathcal{P} denotes the Cauchy principal value; the principal branches of tzt^{z} etc. are implied. Deduce that

∫0∞tz−1t+adt=πaz−1cosec⁡πz\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{t^{z-1}}{t+a} d t=\pi a^{z-1} \operatorname{cosec} \pi z

and that

P∫0∞tz−1t−adt=−πaz−1cot⁡πz\mathcal{P} \int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{t^{z-1}}{t-a} d t=-\pi a^{z-1} \cot \pi z

Use (∗)(*) to show that, if Im⁡(b)>0\operatorname{Im}(b)>0, then

∫0∞tz−1t−bdt=−πbz−1(cot⁡πz−i)\int_{0}^{\infty} \frac{t^{z-1}}{t-b} d t=-\pi b^{z-1}(\cot \pi z-i)

What is the value of this integral if Im⁡(b)<0\operatorname{Im}(b)<0 ?

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