I am trying to solve $$\int_{0}^{2\pi}\exp(ik\theta)d\theta$$ where $k$ is nonzero integer.
I know the answer would be $0$, but I want to try it with path integration to understand the path integration better. So, I would like to share my path integration answer and hope I can get some corrections (if there are any) since I am very new to it.
Let a path $\gamma :[0,2\pi]\rightarrow \mathbb{C} $ s.t $\gamma (t)=\exp(\frac{ikt}{2})$ where $k$ is nonzero integer.
Then, since $\exp$ function is holomorphic, $\gamma '(t)=\frac{ik}{2}\exp(\frac{ikt}{2})$.
Now, consider $\int_{\gamma }z \, dz$.
By definition of the path integration,
$$\int_{\gamma }z \, dz=\int_{0}^{2\pi}\exp(\frac{ikt}{2})\cdot \frac{ik}{2}\exp(\frac{ikt}{2})dt \\ =\frac{ik}{2}\int_{0}^{2\pi}\exp(ikt)\, dt \\ = \frac{ik}{2}\cdot \frac{1}{ik}\left [ \exp(ikt) \right ]_{0}^{2\pi} \\ = \frac{1}{2}\left ( \exp(i(2\pi k))-\exp(0) \right ) \\ = \frac{1}{2}(1-1)=0 $$
Thus, $\int_{0}^{2\pi}\exp(ik\theta)d\theta=0$ for any nonzero integer $k$.
Did I use the path integration correctly?
Did I set the path correctly?
Furthermore, if we don't want to use the path integration, is it safe to use the fact $\exp$ functions have primitive (like we normally do for the real exponential functions)? Aren't there any restrictions like the Log functions do?
I'm kind of confused, so I want to make sure I have no confusion before I get deeper into the complex integration.
Best Answer
It seems like your intention was to use a contour integral to evaluate a standard integral, but instead you used a standard integral to evaluate a contour integral. Alternately, you might set $\gamma(\theta)=e^{ik\theta}$ for $\theta\in [0,2\pi]$ and then $$ \int_0^{2\pi} e^{i k \theta} d \theta=\int_{\gamma} \frac{dz}{ik}=0, $$ since $\gamma$ is a closed path and $\frac{1}{ik}$ is entire.