Appendix A

The Delta Distribution

The delta-distribution* or delta function, as it was originally called, is a
singular function beyond the realm of classical analysis. As we observed in
the text, in physical contexts the delta distribution arises in the consideration
of point charges, and similarly in that of mass points. The density of a unit
charge or unit mass at (say) z = 0 which is written b ( z ) is everywhere zero
except at z = 0, where it is so large that the total charge, i.e. its integral
over all space, becomes 1, i.e.
03

S(z) = 0 for z # 0, d(z)dz = 1. (A4

No function of classical analysis has such properties since for any function
which is everywhere zero except at one point, the integral must vanish (irre-
spective of the concept of the integral). As a further example, which leads
to a singular function, we consider the case of two charges of opposite signs
with intensities f l / and
~ located at the points z = 0,z = E . The density
distributions of the charges are b ( z ) / ~-6
, (z - E ) / E . In the limit E t 0 the
charges approach each other, with the product of intensity 1 / and ~ mutual
separation E , i.e. the dipole moment, remaining constant. One thus obtains
a dipole with density

This limiting value is undefined and does not exist in the context of classical
analysis. However, in the theory of distributions developed by L. Schwartz,
the delta function, its derivative S’(z) and similar quantities, find exact defi-
nitions which, moreover, permit application of customary operations of clas-
sical analysis. Physical considerations point the way to how best to proceed

*We follow here W. Giittinger, Fortschr. Physik 14 (1966) 483.

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