closed-formcomplex-analysisharmonic-numbersintegrationreal-analysis
I am wondering if there is a closed form for
$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(-1)^{n-1}H_{an}}{n},$$
Where $a$ is positive real.
The integral representation of this sum is
$$a\zeta(2)+a\int_0^1\frac{\ln(1-x)}{x(1+x^a)}dx.$$
I encountered this sum while trying to generalize $\displaystyle\int_0^1 \frac{\ln \left( 1+x^{2+\sqrt{3}}\right)}{1+x}dx$ to $\displaystyle\int_0^1 \frac{\ln \left( 1+x^{a}\right)}{1+x}dx.$
Thanks,
Edited: I have changed the approach as I realised that the use of summation is quite redundant (since the resulting sums have to be converted back to integrals). I feel that this new method is slightly cleaner and more systematic.
We can break up the integral into
\begin{align}
-&\int^1_0\frac{\ln^3{x}\ln(1+x)}{1-x}{\rm d}x\\
=&\int^1_0\frac{\ln^3{x}\ln(1-x)}{1-x}{\rm d}x-\int^1_0\frac{(1+x)\ln^3{x}\ln(1-x^2)}{(1+x)(1-x)}{\rm d}x\\
=&\int^1_0\frac{\ln^3{x}\ln(1-x)}{1-x}{\rm d}x-\int^1_0\frac{\ln^3{x}\ln(1-x^2)}{1-x^2}{\rm d}x-\int^1_0\frac{x\ln^3{x}\ln(1-x^2)}{1-x^2}{\rm d}x\\
=&\frac{15}{16}\int^1_0\frac{\ln^3{x}\ln(1-x)}{1-x}{\rm d}x-\frac{1}{16}\int^1_0\frac{x^{-1/2}\ln^3{x}\ln(1-x)}{1-x}{\rm d}x\\
=&\frac{15}{16}\frac{\partial^4\beta}{\partial a^3 \partial b}(1,0^{+})-\frac{1}{16}\frac{\partial^4\beta}{\partial a^3 \partial b}(0.5,0^{+})
\end{align}
After differentiating and expanding at $b=0$ (with the help of Mathematica),
\begin{align}
&\frac{\partial^4\beta}{\partial a^3 \partial b}(a,0^{+})\\
=&\left[\frac{\Gamma(a)}{\Gamma(a+b)}\left(\frac{1}{b}+\mathcal{O}(1)\right)\left(\left(-\frac{\psi_4(a)}{2}+(\gamma+\psi_0(a))\psi_3(a)+3\psi_1(a)\psi_2(a)\right)b+\mathcal{O}(b^2)\right)\right]_{b=0}\\
=&-\frac{1}{2}\psi_4(a)+(\gamma+\psi_0(a))\psi_3(a)+3\psi_1(a)\psi_2(a)
\end{align}
Therefore,
\begin{align}
-&\int^1_0\frac{\ln^3{x}\ln(1+x)}{1-x}{\rm d}x\\
=&-\frac{15}{32}\psi_4(1)+\frac{45}{16}\psi_1(1)\psi_2(1)+\frac{1}{32}\psi_4(0.5)+\frac{1}{8}\psi_3(0.5)\ln{2}-\frac{3}{16}\psi_1(0.5)\psi_2(0.5)\\
=&-12\zeta(5)+\frac{3\pi^2}{8}\zeta(3)+\frac{\pi^4}{8}\ln{2}
\end{align}
The relation between $\psi_{m}(1)$, $\psi_m(0.5)$ and $\zeta(m+1)$ is established easily using the series representation of the polygamma function.
Considering the algebraic identity \begin{align*} &(a-b)^3b = a^3b - 3a^2b^2 + 3ab^3 - b^4 = -2a^3b +3(a^3b+ab^3) -3a^2b^2 -b^4\\ &\Longrightarrow \ \ \ 2a^3b = -{b^4 \over 2} -{b^4 + 6a^2b^2\over 2} + 3(a^3b+ab^3) - (a-b)^3b \end{align*} with $a = \ln(1-x)$ and $b= \ln (1+x)$ it follows that \begin{align*} 2\int_0^1 {\ln^3(1-x)\ln(1+x)\over x}dx =& - \frac 1 2\int_0^1 {\ln^4(1+x)\over x}d x \\ &-\frac 12 \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^4(1+x) + 6\ln^2(1-x)\ln^2(1+x)}{x}dx\\ &+3\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3(1-x)\ln(1+x) + \ln(1-x)\ln^3(1+x)}{x}dx\\ &- \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3\left(\frac{1-x}{1+x}\right)\ln(1+x)}{x}dx\\ =:& -I_1 - I_2 + I_3 -I_4. \end{align*}
For $I_1$, make substitution $y = \frac x {1+x}$ to get: \begin{align*} I_1 =& \frac 1 2 \int_0^{\frac 12} \frac{\ln^4(1-y)}{y(1-y)} dy \\ =& \frac 1 2\underbrace{ \int_0^{\frac 12} \frac{\ln^4(1-y)}{y} dy}_{z=1-y}+ \frac 1 2 \int_0^{\frac 12} \frac{\ln^4(1-y)}{1-y} dy\\ =& \frac 1 2 \int_{\frac 1 2 }^1 \frac{\ln^4 z} {1-z} dz + \frac {\ln^5 2}{10}\\ =& \frac 12 \sum_{n=1}^\infty \int_{\frac 1 2}^1 z^{n-1}\ln^4 z\ dz + \frac {\ln^5 2}{10}\\ =& \frac 12 \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{\partial^4}{\partial n^4}\left[\frac 1 n - \frac 1 {n2^n}\right] + \frac {\ln^5 2}{10}\\ =& \frac 12 \sum_{n=1}^\infty \left[\frac{24}{n^5} - \frac {24}{n^52^n} - \frac{24 \ln 2}{n^42^n}-\frac{12\ln^2 2}{n^3 2^n}-\frac{4\ln^3 2}{n^2 2^n} - \frac{\ln^4 2}{n2^n}\right] + \frac {\ln^5 2}{10}\\ =&12\zeta(5) - 12\text{Li}_5(1/2) - 12\ln 2 \text{Li}_4(1/2) -6\ln^2 2 \text{Li}_3(1/2) -2\ln^3 2\text{Li}_2(1/2)-\frac {2}{5}\ln^5 2\\ =&\boxed{-12\Big(\text{Li}_5(1/2) + \ln 2\text{Li}_4(1/2)-\zeta(5)\Big)-{21 \over 4}\zeta(3)\ln^2 2 +{1\over 3} \pi^2 \ln^3 2-{2 \over 5} \ln^5 2} \end{align*} where the well-known values \begin{align*}\text{Li}_2(1/2) = {\pi^2 \over 12}-{\ln^2 2\over 2} , \qquad \text{Li}_3(1/2) ={7\zeta(3) \over 8} -{\pi^2 \ln 2\over 12} + {\ln^3 2 \over 6} \end{align*} are used.
Actually, $I_2$ was already evaluated by the OP here using the algebraic identity $$b^4 + 6a^2b^2 = \frac {(a-b)^4} 2+\frac{(a+b)^4}{2} -a^4.$$ It holds that $$ \boxed{I_2 = \frac {21}{8} \zeta(5).} $$
In fact, the value of $I_3$ can also be found in the previous answer of @Przemo's. For $I_3$, one can use the algebraic relation $3(a^3b + ab^3) =\frac 3 8 \left[ (a+b)^4 - (a-b)^4\right]$. This gives \begin{align*} I_3=& \underbrace{\frac 3 8 \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^4(1-x^2)}{x} dx}_{x^2 = y} - \underbrace{\frac 3 8 \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^4\left(\frac{1-x}{1+x}\right)}{x} dx}_{\frac{1-x}{1+x} = y}\\ =&\frac 3 {16}\underbrace{\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^4(1-y)}{y} dy }_{1-y\mapsto y}- \frac 3 4 \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^4 y}{1-y^2} dy\\ =&\frac 3 {16}\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^4 y}{1-y} dy - \frac 3 4 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \int_0^1 y^{2n} \ln^4 y \ dy\\ =&\frac 3 {16}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \int_0^1 y^{n-1}\ln^4 y \ dy - \frac 3 4 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac {24}{(2n+1)^5}\\ =&\frac 3 {16}\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{24}{n^5} - 18 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac {1}{(2n+1)^5}\\ =&\frac {9}{2} \zeta(5)- 18\cdot \frac {31}{32}\zeta(5)\\ =&\boxed{-\frac{207}{16}\zeta(5)} \end{align*} as can be found in @Przemo's answer.
For $I_4$, make substitution $ \frac{1-x}{1+x}\mapsto x$ to get \begin{align*} I_4 = &2\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln\left(\frac 2 {1+x}\right)}{1-x^2} dx \\ =&2\ln 2 \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x}{1-x^2} dx - \underbrace{2\int_0^1\frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1+x)}{1-x^2} dx }_{=:J}\\ =& 2\ln 2\sum_{n=0}^\infty \int_0^1 x^{2n} \ln^3 x\ dx - J\\ =& - 12\ln 2 \underbrace{\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac 1 {(2n+1)^4}}_{\frac{15}{16}\zeta(4) = \frac{\pi^4}{96}} - J \\ =& -\frac{\pi^4 \ln 2}{8} - J. \end{align*} \begin{align*} J = &\int_0^1\frac{2\ln^3 x \ln(1+x)}{1-x^2} dx \\ =& \underbrace{\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1+x)}{1+x}dx}_{=:A} + \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1+x)}{1-x}dx\\ =& A + \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1-x^2)}{1-x}dx -\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1-x)}{1-x}dx\\ =&A + \int_0^1 \frac{(1+x)\ln^3 x \ln(1-x^2)}{1-x^2}dx -\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1-x)}{1-x}dx\\ =&A + \underbrace{\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1-x^2)}{1-x^2}dx }_{=:B}+\underbrace{\int_0^1 \frac{x\ln^3 x \ln(1-x^2)}{1-x^2}dx}_{x^2 \mapsto x}-\int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1-x)}{1-x}dx\\ =&A + B - \underbrace{\frac {15}{16} \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 x \ln(1-x)}{1-x}dx}_{=:C}\\ =&A + B - C. \end{align*}
For $A$, we can use the McLaurin series of $$ \frac{\ln (1+x)}{1+x} = \sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^{n-1}H_n x^n $$ ($H_0= 0$) to get \begin{align*} A = & \sum_{n=0}^\infty (-1)^{n-1}H_n \int_0^1 x^n\ln^3 x \ dx \\ =&6 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{n}H_n}{(n+1)^4}\\ =&6 \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{n}H_{n+1}}{(n+1)^4} - 6\sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{n}}{(n+1)^5}\\ =&6 \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{n-1}H_{n}}{n^4} - 6\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac{(-1)^{n-1}}{n^5}\\ =& 6\left(\frac{59}{32}\zeta(5) - \frac{\pi^2\zeta(3)}{12}\right)-6\cdot \frac{15}{16}\zeta(5)\\ =& \frac{87}{16}\zeta(5) - \frac{\pi^2 \zeta(3)}{2}. \end{align*} Here, the known value of $ \sum_{n=1}^\infty (-1)^{n-1}{H_n \over n^4}$ is used.
For $B$, make substitution $u = x^2$ to get \begin{align*} B =& \frac 1 {16} \int_0^1 \frac{\ln^3 u \ln(1-u)}{\sqrt u (1-u)} du \\ =& \frac 1 {16} \left[\frac{\partial^4}{\partial x^3\partial y} \text{B}(x,y)\right]_{x=\frac 1 2, y = 0^+} \end{align*} where $\text{B}(\cdot,\cdot)$ is Euler's Beta function. We can use the fact that \begin{align*} \lim_{y\to 0^+}\frac{\partial^2}{\partial x\partial y} \text{B}(x,y) = -\frac 1 2 \psi''(x) + \psi'(x) \big[\psi(x) + \gamma\big] \end{align*} to get \begin{align*} B =& \frac 1 {16}\frac{d^2}{dx^2}\left[-\frac 1 2 \psi''(x) + \psi'(x) \big[\psi(x) + \gamma\big]\right]_{x=\frac 1 2}\\ =&\frac 1 {16} \left[-\frac 1 2 \psi''''(1/2) + \psi'''(1/2)\big[\psi(1/2) + \gamma\big] + 3\psi'(1/2)\psi''(1/2)\right]\\ =& \frac 1 {16}\left[-21\pi^2 \zeta(3) + 372\zeta(5) - 2\pi^4 \ln 2\right] \end{align*} which can be evaluated using the series representations of polygamma functions $$\psi(x) +\gamma = - \frac 1 x +\sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac 1 n - \frac 1 { n+x},\\ \psi'(x) = \sum_{n=0}^\infty \frac 1 {(n+x)^2}$$ and the derived fact that $\psi(\tfrac 1 2 )+\gamma = -2\ln 2$ and $\psi^{(k)}(\tfrac 1 2)=(-1)^{k+1}k!(2^{k+1}-1)\zeta(k+1)$ for $k\ge 1$.
For $C$, we can use the same method as used in the evaluation of $B$. It holds that \begin{align*} C =& \frac {15}{16} \left[\frac{\partial^4}{\partial x^3\partial y} \text{B}(x,y)\right]_{x=1, y = 0^+}\\ =&\frac {15} {16}\left[-\frac 1 2 \psi''''(1) + \psi'''(1)\big[\psi(1) + \gamma\big] + 3\psi'(1)\psi''(1)\right]\\ =&\frac{15}{16}\left[12\zeta(5) -6\zeta(2)\zeta(3)\right]\\ =&\frac {45}{4}\zeta(5) -\frac {15\pi^2 \zeta(3)}{16} \end{align*} where $\psi(1) +\gamma = 0$, $\psi'(1) = \zeta(2)$, $\psi''(1) = -2\zeta(3)$ and $\psi''''(1) = -24\zeta(5)$ are used.
Combining $A,B,C$, we have that $$J =A+B-C= \frac{279}{16}\zeta(5) -\frac{7\pi^2\zeta(3)}{8} - \frac{\pi^4 \ln 2}{8}$$ and $$ \boxed{I_4 = -\frac{\pi^4 \ln 2}{8} - J = -\frac{279}{16}\zeta(5)+\frac{7\pi^2\zeta(3)}{8}} $$
Finally, these evaluate $\int_0^1 {\ln^3(1-x)\ln(1+x)\over x}dx =\frac 1 2\big[-I_1-I_2+I_3-I_4\big]$ as follows.
\begin{align*} \int_0^1 {\ln^3(1-x)\ln(1+x)\over x}dx =&\ 6\text{Li}_5(1/2) + 6\ln 2\ \text{Li}_4(1/2)-\frac{81}{16}\zeta(5)-{7\pi^2 \over 16}\zeta(3)\\ &+\frac{21\ln^2 2}{8}\zeta(3)- \frac{1}{6}\pi^2\ln^3 2+\frac{1}{5}\ln^5 2. \end{align*}
Using the identity given in the OP, we get the desired integral $I$
\begin{align*} \int_0^{\frac 1 2}\frac{\text{Li}_2^2(x)}{x} dx = &-2\text{Li}_5(1/2) -2\ln 2\ \text{Li}_4(1/2)+\frac{27}{32}\zeta(5) +\frac{7\pi^2}{48}\zeta(3)-\frac{7\ln^2 2}{8}\zeta(3) \\ &-\frac{\pi^4\ln 2}{144} +\frac{\pi^2\ln^3 2}{12} - \frac{7\ln^5 2}{60}. \end{align*}
Best Answer
A proof for $$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n-1}\frac{H_{2n}}{n} =\frac{5\pi^2}{48}-\frac14 \ln^22$$ can be found at Evaluating $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} (-1)^{n-1}\frac{H_{2n}}{n}$, and in a comment there Omram Kouba provides the general result
$$\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^{n-1}\frac{H_{an}}{n}$$
via link to their paper: http://arxiv.org/abs/1010.1842. Specifically, it is there shown that: $$\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^{n-1}\frac{H_{an}}{n} = \frac{(a^2+1)\pi^2}{24a} - \frac{1}{2} \sum_{j=0}^{a-1} \log^2\left(2 \sin \frac{(2j+1)\pi}{2a} \right)$$