A half-shift reflection identity for the digamma function

Abstract

We prove the identity \[ 2W_1(x) + \log 4 + \psi\left(\tfrac{1}{2} + x\right) + \psi\left(\tfrac{3}{2} - x\right) = 0, \] where $\psi$ is the digamma function and \[ W_1(x) = 2\int_0^\infty \Re\left( \frac{y}{(y^2+1)(e^{\pi(y+2ix)} - 1)} \right) dy. \] The identity was first conjectured while studying class number $h(D)$ for $D=m^2$ from two complementary perspectives. Our proof, however, is purely analytic: we compute cosine-series expansions of both sides, expressed in terms of the cosine integral Ci$(z)$. Using the above identity and M\"obius inversion we find an elementary formula for $$\sum_{\substack{1\le r<m\\ (r,m)=1}} W_1\!\left(\frac{r}{m}\right).$$