What is "polylogarithm"

n. (context mathematics English) A function of complex numbers related to logarithms.

In mathematics, the polylogarithm (also known as Jonquière|1889}}|Jonquière's function, for Alfred Jonquière) is a special function Li(z) of order s and argument z. Only for special values of s does the polylogarithm reduce to an elementary function such as the natural logarithm or rational functions. 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 a similar notation.

Different polylogarithm functions in the complex plane

Complex polylogminus3.jpg

Complex polylogminus2.jpg

Complex polylogminus1.jpg

Complex polylog0.jpg

Complex polylog1.jpg

Complex polylog2.jpg

Complex polylog3.jpg

Li(z)

Li(z)

Li(z)

Li(z)

Li(z)

Li(z)

Li(z)

The polylogarithm function is defined by the infinite sum, or power series:

$$\operatorname{Li}_s(z) = \sum_{k=1}^\infty {z^k \over k^s} = z + {z^2 \over 2^s} + {z^3 \over 3^s} + \cdots \,.$$

This definition is valid for arbitrary complex order s and for all complex arguments z with |z| < 1; it can be extended to |z| ≥ 1 by the process of analytic continuation. The special case s = 1 involves the ordinary natural logarithm, Li(z) = −ln(1−z), while the special cases s = 2 and s = 3 are called the dilogarithm (also referred to as Spence's function) and trilogarithm respectively. The name of the function comes from the fact that it may also be defined as the repeated integral of itself:

$$\operatorname{Li}_{s+1}(z) = \int_0^z \frac {\operatorname{Li}_s(t)}{t}\,\mathrm{d}t \,;$$

thus the dilogarithm is an integral of the logarithm, and so on. For nonpositive integer orders s, the polylogarithm is a rational function.