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Mathematical Methods for Physicists

George B. Arfken, Hans J. Weber

Chapter 15

Integral Transforms - all with Video Answers

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Section 1

Integral Transforms

Problem 1

The Fourier transforms for a function of two variables are
$$
\begin{aligned}
& F(u, v)=\frac{1}{2 \pi} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \int f(x, y) e^{i(u x+v y)} d x d y, \\
& f(x, y)=\frac{1}{2 \pi} \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} \int F(u, v) e^{-i(u x+v y)} d u d v .
\end{aligned}
$$

Using $f(x, y)=f\left(\left[x^2+y^2\right]^{1 / 2}\right)$, show that the zero-order Hankel transforms
$$
\begin{aligned}
& F(\rho)=\int_0^{\infty} r f(r) J_0(\rho r) d r, \\
& f(r)=\int_0^{\infty} \rho F(\rho) J_0(\rho r) d \rho,
\end{aligned}
$$
are a special case of the Fourier transforms.
This technique may be generalized to derive the Hankel transforms of order $v=$ $0, \frac{1}{2}, 1, \frac{1}{2}, \ldots$ (compare I. N. Sneddon, Fourier Transforms, New York: McGraw-Hill (1951)). A more general approach, valid for $v>-\frac{1}{2}$, is presented in Sneddon's The Use of Integral Transforms (New York: McGraw-Hill (1972)). It might also be noted that the Hankel transforms of nonintegral order $v= \pm \frac{1}{2}$ reduce to Fourier sine and cosine transforms.

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Problem 2

Assuming the validity of the Hankel transform-inverse transform pair of equations
$$
\begin{aligned}
& g(\alpha)=\int_0^{\infty} f(t) J_n(\alpha t) t d t, \\
& f(t)=\int_0^{\infty} g(\alpha) J_n(\alpha t) \alpha d \alpha,
\end{aligned}
$$
show that the Dirac delta function has a Bessel integral representation
$$
\delta\left(t-t^{\prime}\right)=t \int_0^{\infty} J_n(\alpha t) J_n\left(\alpha t^{\prime}\right) \alpha d \alpha .
$$

This expression is useful in developing Green's functions in cylindrical coordinates, where the eigenfunctions are Bessel functions.

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Problem 3

From the Fourier transforms, Eqs. (15.22) and (15.23), show that the transformation
$$
\begin{aligned}
t & \rightarrow \ln x \\
i \omega & \rightarrow \alpha-\gamma
\end{aligned}
$$
leads to
$$
G(\alpha)=\int_0^{\infty} F(x) x^{\alpha-1} d x
$$
and
$$
F(x)=\frac{1}{2 \pi i} \int_{\gamma-i \infty}^{\gamma+i \infty} G(\alpha) x^{-\alpha} d \alpha .
$$

These are the Mellin transforms. A similar change of variables is employed in Section 15.12 to derive the inverse Laplace transform.

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01:06

Problem 4

Verify the following Mellin transforms:
(a) $\int_0^{\infty} x^{\alpha-1} \sin (k x) d x=k^{-\alpha}(\alpha-1) ! \sin \frac{\pi \alpha}{2}, \quad-1<\alpha<1$.
(b) $\int_0^{\infty} x^{\alpha-1} \cos (k x) d x=k^{-\alpha}(\alpha-1) ! \cos \frac{\pi \alpha}{2}, \quad 0<\alpha<1$.

Hast Aggarwal
Hast Aggarwal
Numerade Educator