Evaluation of integral with parameters

Question

I am trying to solve the following integral having two strictly positive parameters:

Integrate[(u - 1)^2 * (1 - u^(-1/xi))^(k - 3) * u^(-3/xi - 3), 
 {u, 1, Infinity}, Assumptions -> {xi > 0, k > 0}]

but the returned solution only holds for $k > 2$.

If I integrate the same expression by making separate assumptions on $k$ (that is, first I integrate assuming $k > 2$, then I integrate assuming $k = 2$ and so on ...), I am able to get a solution for $k=1$, $k=2$ and $k>2$. But when I run

Integrate[(u - 1)^2 * (1 - u^(-1/xi))^(k - 3) * u^(-3/xi - 3), 
 {u, 1, Infinity}, Assumptions -> {xi > 0, 0 < k < 1}]

Mathematica returns the same unevaluated expression. The same happens when I integrate the expression assuming $1<k<2$.

Additional attempts: I tried to solve the integral by first applying the function FullSimplify but nothing changes. I also developed the term (u - 1)^2 and multiplied each of its element for (1 - u^(-1/xi))^(k - 3) * u^(-3/xi - 3) to find out that the integrals do not converge on {1, Infinity} for 0<k<1 nor for 1<k<2.

How can I solve the integral for $0<k<1$ and $1<k<2$?

Answer 1

Let us investigate the behavior of the integrand as $u\to 1$

Series[(u - 1)^2*(1 - u^(-1/xi))^(k - 3)*u^(-3/xi - 3), {u, 1, 2}, 
Assumptions -> {xi > 0, k > 0}] // Normal

(-1 + u)^(-1 + k) xi^(3 - k)

and as $u\to \infty$

Series[(u - 1)^2*(1 - u^(-1/xi))^(k - 3)*u^(-3/xi - 3), {u, Infinity,   2}, 
Assumptions -> {xi > 0, k > 0}] // Normal

u^(-3 - 3/xi) (1 - 2 u + u^2) (1 - u^(-1/xi))^(-3 + k)

The above results prove the convergence of the integral under consideration if xi > 0, k > 0.

In view of it we may consider

j = Integrate[(u - 1)^2*(1 - u^(-1/xi))^(k - 3)*u^(-3/xi - 3), {u, 1,  Infinity},
 Assumptions -> {xi > 0, k > 0},  GenerateConditions -> False]

xi (2/(k (2 - 3 k + k^2)) + Gamma[-2 + k] (-((2 Gamma[3 + xi])/Gamma[1 + k + xi]) + Gamma[3 + 2 xi]/Gamma[1 + k + 2 xi]))

Numeric calculations

N[j /. {k -> 1/2, xi -> 1/10}]

0.00127714

and

NIntegrate[(u - 1)^2*(1 - u^(-1/xi))^(k - 3)* u^(-3/xi - 3) /. {k -> 1/2, xi -> 1/10}, {u, 1, Infinity}]

0.00127714

confirm it.