Limit of Gamma function becomes Log

gamma functionlimits

I am performing a calculation in Physics and needed to compute the following limit:

$$\lim_{d\to2} \Gamma \left(1-\frac{d}{2} \right) \cdot \left(a^{2-d} – b^{2-d} \right).$$

I typed it into WolframAlpha and it gave me back $2\log(b/a)$. Is there somehow a way one can obtain this? I have tried l'Hôpital's rule, but I am not that familiar with derivatives of the $\Gamma$ function and was hoping someone could illuminate the answer.

Thanks!

Best Answer

You need to know something about the Gamma function to proceed. Take $1 - \frac{d}{2} = x$. Then you are interested in the case when $x \to 0$.

$$ \lim_{x \to 0}\Gamma(x)(a^{2x} - b^{2x}) $$

Now use the series expansion of $\Gamma(x)$ about the point at $x = 0$.

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