# Compute $\int_{0}^{+\infty} \frac{\sin x}{\sqrt{x}}\ dx$ using Gamma function

I want to compute $$\int_{0}^{+\infty} \frac{\sin x}{\sqrt{x}}\ dx$$ using Gamma function.

I know that by change of variable, $$y=\sqrt{x}$$, one gets $$\int_{0}^{+\infty} \frac{\sin x}{\sqrt{x}}\ dx=2\int_{0}^{+\infty}\sin y^2\ dy=\frac{\sqrt{2\pi}}{2}$$ by Fresnel's integral.

I try it by considering this: $$\int_{0}^{+\infty}x^{-\frac{1}{2}}e^{ix}\ dx$$ It converges for both real and imaginary part using Dirichlet test, and $$0$$ is not a problem here. Let the square root take the pricipal branch where $$\sqrt{1}=1$$. Let $$y=-ix$$, then $$\int_{0}^{+\infty}x^{-\frac{1}{2}}e^{ix}\ dx=\sqrt{i}\int_{0}^{-i\infty}y^{-\frac{1}{2}}e^{-y}\ dy=(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}i)\Gamma(\frac{1}{2})=\frac{\sqrt{2\pi}}{2} + \frac{\sqrt{2\pi}}{2}i$$ And it coincides with the final answer!

My problem is, suppose $$L$$ is a ray starting from $$0$$ and has an angle $$\phi$$ with the $$x$$-axis, and let $$\phi\in(0,2\pi)$$. I want to argue that (maybe it is incorrect though) $$\Gamma(z)=\int_{L}t^{z-1}e^{-t}\ dt$$

I firstly know that it converges when $$\Re(z)>0$$. Choose a contour like sector, let $$L_1=\{z=x+iy:y=0, r, $$L_2=\{z=Re^{i\theta}:0<\theta<\phi\}$$, $$L_3=\{z=xe^{i\phi}:r and $$L_4=\{z=re^{i\theta}:0<\theta<\phi\}$$, where $$r and the contour is counterclockwise. By Cauchy theorem we have the contour integral should be $$0$$. Easy to see that (let $$z=x+iy$$) $$\lim_{r\to0+, R\to+\infty}\int_{L_1}t^{z-1}e^{-t}\ dt=\Gamma(z)$$ $$|\int_{L_4}t^{z-1}e^{-t}\ dt|=|\int_{\phi}^{0} e^{-re^{i\theta}} (re^{i\theta})^{z-1}ire^{i\theta}\ d\theta| \leq \int_{0}^{\phi} e^{-r\cos\theta} |r^{z}e^{i\theta(z-1)}|\ d\theta=\int_{0}^{\phi} e^{-r\cos\theta} r^{x}e^{-\theta y}\ d\theta \to 0, r \to 0+$$ But when considering $$L_2$$: $$|\int_{L_2}t^{z-1}e^{-t}\ dt|\leq\int_{0}^{\phi} e^{-R\cos\theta} R^{x}e^{-\theta y}\ d\theta$$ when for example, $$\frac{3\pi}{2}>\phi>\frac{\pi}{2}$$, we have $$\cos\theta<0$$ and I failed to prove the above integral goes to zero when $$R\to +\infty$$.

Is my usage of Gamma function to compute the original integral a coincidence to get the correct result, or there is a way to prove my argument?

Thank you so much!

• $\int_0^\infty \sin y^2dy=\int_0^\infty\sin(y^2)dy\ne\int_0^\infty\sin^2ydy$. – Kemono Chen Jan 1 at 8:07

## 1 Answer

There's a bit of a problem because square roots are ambiguous. While $$\int_0^\infty x^{-1/2}\exp -zxdx=\sqrt{\pi}z^{-1/2}$$ is easily proven on $$\Bbb R^+$$, if you try an analytic continuation (whether your proof approach is as detailed as you've attempted or otherwise) the intended theorem isn't even clear. Which kind of $$z^{-1/2}$$ should be used for the desired case $$z=-i$$?

Funnily enough, there's a completely different approach using the gamma function: $$\int_0^\infty\frac{\sin x dx}{\sqrt{x}}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\pi}}\Im\int_0^\infty dx\int_0^\infty y^{-1/2}\exp -x(y-i)dy=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\pi}}\Im\int_0^\infty dy\frac{y^{-1/2}}{y-i}\\=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^\infty\frac{y^{-1/2}dy}{y^2+1}=\frac{1}{\sqrt{\pi}}\int_0^{\pi/2}\tan^{-1/2}\theta d\theta\\=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{\pi}}\operatorname{B}\left(\frac{1}{4},\,\frac{3}{4}\right)=\frac{1}{2\sqrt{\pi}}\Gamma\left(\frac{1}{4}\right)\Gamma\left(\frac{3}{4}\right)=\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}\csc\frac{\pi}{4}=\sqrt{\frac{\pi}{2}}.$$