polylogarithm
Sign in to saveIn mathematics, the polylogarithm (also known as '''Jonquière's function, for Alfred Jonquière) is a special function of order and argument . Only for special values of does the polylogarithm reduce to an elementary function such as the natural logarithm or a rational function. In quantum statistics, the polylogarithm function appears as the closed form of integrals of the Fermi–Dirac distribution and the Bose–Einstein distribution, and is also known as the Fermi–Dirac integral or the Bose–Einstein integral'''. In quantum electrodynamics, polylogarithms of positive integer order arise in the c
Article
13 sectionsContents
- Properties
- Particular values
- Relationship to other functions
- Integral representations
- Series representations
- Asymptotic expansions
- Limiting behavior
- Dilogarithm
- Polylogarithm ladders
- Monodromy
- Notes
- References
- External links
In mathematics, the polylogarithm (also known as '''Jonquière's function, for Alfred Jonquière) is a special function of order and argument . Only for special values of does the polylogarithm reduce to an elementary function such as the natural logarithm or a rational function. In quantum statistics, the polylogarithm function appears as the closed form of integrals of the Fermi–Dirac distribution and the Bose–Einstein distribution, and is also known as the Fermi–Dirac integral or the Bose–Einstein integral'''. In quantum electrodynamics, polylogarithms of positive integer order arise in the calculation of processes represented by higher-order Feynman diagrams.
The polylogarithm function is equivalent to the Hurwitz zeta function — either function can be expressed in terms of the other — and both functions are special cases of the Lerch transcendent. Polylogarithms should not be confused with polylogarithmic functions, nor with the offset logarithmic integral , which has the same notation without the subscript.