# How to convolve the unit box function and the modified Bessel function of the second kind in 2D?

In 1D the convolution of the unit box function and the modified Bessel function of the second kind $K_0(x)$ works very well.

Clear[f, g, h];
f[x_] := UnitBox[x];
g[x_] := BesselK[0, Abs[x]];
h = Convolve[f[y], g[y], y, x]
Plot[{f[x], g[x], h}, {x, -2, 2}, PlotLegends -> "Expressions"]


However, when I try the same in 2D, the convolution doesn't work.

Clear[f, g, h];
f[x1_, x2_] := UnitBox[x1, x2];
g[x1_, x2_] := BesselK[0, Sqrt[x1^2 + x2^2]];
h = Convolve[f[y1, y2], g[y1, y2], {y1, y2}, {x1, x2}]


How can I solve this problem in 2D? I am only interested in the analytical solution.

• What happens if you try setting up the explicit integral? – J. M.'s discontentment Mar 17 '16 at 11:17
• The explicit integral h = Integrate[f[y1, y2] * g[x1-y1, x2-y2], {y1, -Infinity, Infinity}, {y2, -Infinity, Infinity}] doesn't work either. – Pavlo Fesenko Mar 17 '16 at 11:46
• Then it seems likely that Mathematica cannot obtain a closed form solution. – J. M.'s discontentment Mar 17 '16 at 11:57
• Maybe have a look at Schwarz Christoffel map. See also here mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/111479/… and PolyMap[n_, z_] := z Hypergeometric2F1[1/n, 2/n, (n + 1)/n, z^n] – yarchik Jul 17 '16 at 19:15

When you say the 1D convolution of the unit box function and the modified Bessel function of the second kind $K_0(x)$ works very well, I'm not sure what you mean—nor the intended application as $K_0(x)$ is complex for $x<0$.

Note you get a different answer if you restrict the range to [-1,1] in the explicit integral

Integrate[BesselK[0, x - y], {y, -1, 1}]


And this answer is just what you get from the indefinite integral.

Finally, a natural alternative to the 2D unit box is a circle (which generalises the unit interval) , in which case you could use rotational symmetry to obtain the answer.

• I am trying to solve the 2D screened Poisson equation for the unit box source function $f(x_1, x_2)$. The modified Bessel function of the second kind $K_0(|x|)$ is the fundamental solution of this equation. I need to convolve it with the source function in order to get the actual solution. By "works well", I meant that Convolve[] gives me an output which I can use for calculations and plotting (the green line on the plot). My actual problem requires the 2D unit box so a circle is not desirable. I agree, however, that it can be used as an approximation. – Pavlo Fesenko Mar 17 '16 at 15:43
• I have corrected my question by writing BesselK[0, Abs[x]] in 1D instead of just BesselK[0, x]. So there should be no problems with $x < 0$. In 2D it has already been taken into account BesselK[0, Sqrt[x1^2 + x2^2]]. I am still wondering why the same convolution cannot be calculated in 2D? – Pavlo Fesenko Mar 18 '16 at 9:52
• Have you considered the possibility that Mathematica just doesn't know a closed form, @Pavlo? In which case, can you not use a numerical method instead? – J. M.'s discontentment Mar 18 '16 at 10:19
• @J.M. I agree that it could very likely be the case. On the other hand, is there a workaround to obtain the analytical solution? I have already solved this problem numerically but it's quite difficult to analyze the influence of different parameters on the final result. – Pavlo Fesenko Mar 18 '16 at 12:54

Perhaps this suffices:

f[x_, y_] :=
NIntegrate[
UnitBox[s, t] BesselK[0,
Sqrt[(x - s)^2 + (y - s)^2]], {s, -Infinity,
Infinity}, {t, -Infinity, Infinity}]


Visualizing:

Plot3D[f[x, y], {x, -2, 2}, {y, -2, 2}, PlotRange -> Full,
Mesh -> False, PlotPoints -> 25]


Plot could be improved but I do not have time at present.

• Nice idea to use a numerical method to get an idea what the solution looks like. But shouldn't it be y-t in the Sqrt expression inside NIntegrate? Also visually i would expect the solution to resemble more a square than a diagonal line. – Thies Heidecke Jan 8 '18 at 0:11