The standard normal distribution
$$f(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}} e^{\frac{-x^2}{2}},$$
has the characteristic function
$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty f(x) e^{itx} dx = e^{-\frac{t^2}{2}}$$
and this can be proved by obtaining the moments.
However, is there a more direct method of proving that the standard normal has the stated characteristic function? I got stuck on trying to show that
$$\int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{-\frac{1}{2}(x-it)^2} dx= \sqrt{2\pi}.$$
Best Answer
A simple change of variables allows you to compute $\mathbb{E}[e^{tX}]$ for real $t$ and standard normal $X$, $$ \begin{align} \mathbb{E}[e^{tX}]&=\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}}\int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{-\frac12x^2}e^{tx}\,dx\\ &= \frac{e^{\frac12t^2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}}\int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{-\frac12(x-t)^2}\,dx\\ &=\frac{e^{\frac12t^2}}{\sqrt{2\pi}}\int_{-\infty}^\infty e^{-\frac12y^2}\,dy\\ &=e^{\frac12t^2}. \end{align} $$ Here, the substitution $y=x-t$ has been used. In fact, this identity holds for all complex $t$ as well by analytic continuation. The right hand side, $e^{\frac12t^2}$ is clearly analytic. The left hand side is analytic, as it has the derivative $\mathbb{E}[Xe^{tX}]$. The fact that you can commute differentiation and expectation follows from the dominated convergence theorem. Two analytic functions which agree on the real line must agree everywhere (by analytic continuation). So the identity holds for all complex $t$, and replacing $t$ by $it$ gives the expression you ask for.