Suppose we have the following function: $\Phi(x)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi\sigma^2}}\exp(-\frac{1}{2}\frac{x^2}{\sigma^2})$ and suppose the variable $x$ is depending on an angle $\alpha$: $x=sin(\alpha)$ Is it possible to give an analytic expression of the integral $\Phi(\alpha)$? Thanks.
Integral of a gaussian function depending on an angle
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definite-integrals
1 Answers
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It is possible with the following consideration: $ x^2=\sin^2(\alpha)=\frac{1}{2}(1-\cos(2\alpha)) $ and so the function becomes $ \Phi(\alpha)=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}\sigma}e^{-\frac{1}{4\sigma^2}(1-\cos(2\alpha))}. $ Then you note that $ e^{z\cos\theta}=I_0(z)+2\sum_{n=1}^\infty I_n(z)\cos(n\theta) $ being in your case $I_n(z)$ modified Bessel funtions, $z=-\frac{1}{4\sigma^2}$ and $\theta=2\alpha$. Finally, the integral can be evaluated provided it is done on a finite interval.