A Definite Integral Involving the Logarithmic Function in Terms of the Lerch Function

Abstract

We present a method using contour integration to evaluate the definite integral of the form ∫ 0 ∞ log k ( a y ) R ( y ) d y in terms of special functions, where R ( y ) = y m 1 + α y n and k , m , a , α and n are arbitrary complex numbers. We use this method for evaluation as well as to derive some interesting related material and check entries in tables of integrals.