A family of log-gamma integrals and associated results (Q1770983)

The authors present a systematic investigation of the following log-gamma integral: \(\int_0^z \log \Gamma (t+1) \, dt\) and of its several related integral formulas. This involves the consideration of the Weierstrass canonical product for the gamma function, the Riemann and Hurwitz (or generalized) zeta functions, the Barnes \(G\)-function (\(1/G = \Gamma_2\)) and its corresponding Stirling formula, and some other. Relevant connections among the various mathematical constants involved naturally in the evaluation of the proposed integral are pointed out by the authors, among them the Glaisher-Kinkelin constant and Catalan's constant. Some approximate numerical values of the derivative \(\zeta '(- 1,a)\) of the Hurwitz zeta function are also considered. Contact is made at this stage with results previously obtained by this reviewer, by using Watson's lemma and Laplace's method to Hermite's integral representation of the Hurwitz zeta function (cited in the paper). As remarked by the authors, the importance of such derivatives as \(\zeta '(- 1,a)\) (and in general for negative integer values of the argument) lies in their usefulness in effective Lagrangian theories of quark confinement.