Clausen function and a dilogarithmic integral arising in quantum field theory

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 - 15:00 to 15:45

Thackeray 427

Speaker Information
Cezar Lupu
University of Pittsburgh

Abstract or Additional Information

In this talk, I shall bring into perspective a transcendental function which connects many branches of mathematics (analysis, number theory, algebra) and physics (quantum field theory). This function is called nowadays the Clausen integral. This was introduced for the first time by Thomas Clausen in 1832 and it is intimately connected with the polylogarithm, polygamma function and ultimately with the Riemann zeta function. Next, we state some basic properties of this function and we give a new proof of the Clausen acceleration formula (based on a joint work with Derek Orr). We also make some important remarks why this acceleration formula is important in physics and towards the end of the talk, I shall discuss about a dilogarithmic integral from quantum field theory.