The Dilogarithm Function of a Real Argument [S22]

The dilogarithm function [1-3], defined by Li₂(x) = - ∫_{x 0} (1/z) ln (1 - z) dz, (1) occurs in several different applications in physics and engineering, ranging from quantum electrodynamics, to network analysis, to the thermodynamics of ideal ferromagnets, to the structure of polymers. A new function subroutine is developed which computes the dilogarithm function of a real argument to an accuracy of a few parts in 10₁₅. This program was designed to be included in the usual package of library subprograms relied upon by most users. It employs an alternative computational approach to a previously published algorithm [4].