Questions tagged [complex-analysis]

For questions mainly about theory of complex analytic/holomorphic functions of one complex variable. Use [tag:complex-numbers] instead for questions about complex numbers. Use [tag:several-complex-variables] instead for questions about holomorphic functions of more than one complex variables.

Complex analysis is a branch of mathematical analysis that investigates functions of one or several complex variables. Typical topics include Cauchy's integral formula, singularities, poles, holomorphic and meromorphic functions, Laurent and Taylor series, maximum modulus principle, isolated zeros principle, etc.

Independent variable and dependent variable of complex functions are both complex numbers, and may be separated into real (denoted by $\Re$) and imaginary parts (denoted by $\Im$) : $z = x +iy$ and $w = f(z) =u(x,y)+iv(x,y)$ where $x, y \in \mathbb{R}$, $u(x,y)$ and $v(x,y)$ being real-valued functions.

A fundamental result of complex analysis is the Cauchy-Riemann equations, which give the conditions for a function to have a complex derivative, which is a complex generalization of the (real) derivative. If the complex derivative is defined at each point in an open connected subset of $\mathbb C$, the function is called analytic, or holomorphic. If the complex derivative is defined at each point in $\mathbb C$, the function is called entire.

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Existence of an holomorphic function

Is there a simple way to prove this fact : For all holomorphic functions $f : \mathbb C \to \mathbb C$, there is an holomorphic function $\psi : \mathbb C \to \mathbb C$ such that $$\psi(z+1) = \psi(z) + f(z) $$ The solution I know use Galois…
user171326
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Intuition for Little Picard's theorem

Little Picard's theorem is the following: Suppose $f:\mathbb{C}\rightarrow \mathbb{C}$ is entire. Then either 1) $f$ is constant 2) $f$ is surjective or 3) $f$ is onto $\mathbb{C}-\{p\}$ for some point $p\in \mathbb{C}$. Said another way, an…
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Mapping half-plane to unit disk?

Say you have the half-plane $\{z\in\mathbb{C}:\Re(z)>0\}$. Is there a rigorous explanation why the transformation $w=\dfrac{z-1}{z+1}$ maps the half plane onto $|w|<1$?
Beorn
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Does constant modulus on boundary of annulus imply constant function?

Suppose I have a function $f:\mathbb{C}\rightarrow \mathbb{C}$, holomorphic on some neighborhood of an annulus $r\le|z|\le R$, $r
Potato
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How is Cauchy's estimate derived?

Cauchy's integral formula says $$ f^{(n)}(z)=\frac{n!}{2\pi i}\int_C\frac{f(\zeta)d\zeta}{(\zeta-z)^{n+1}}. $$ If we let $C$ be the circle of radius $r$, such that $|f(\zeta)|\leq M$ on $C$, then taking $z=a$, one obtains Cauchy's estimate that…
estimate
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Complex Integration of $\int_0^\infty e^{-ax}\cos(bx)\,dx$

Out of Stein's book, we're asked to show find a formula for $$\int_0^\infty e^{-ax}\cos(bx)\,dx,\quad a>0.$$While this is very doable via integration by parts, I'm asked to use contour integration, where we're suggested to integrate over a sector…
Clayton
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Show that holomorphic $f_1, . . . , f_n $ are constant if $\sum_{k=1}^n \left| f_k(z) \right|$ is constant.

While studying for an exam in complex analysis, I came across this problem. Unfortunately I was not able to solve it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Let $U ⊂ \mathbb{C}$ be a domain and $f_1, . . . , f_n : U \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$…
user59982
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Proving that all entire and injective functions take the form $f = ax + b$?

Prove that all entire functions that are also injective take the form $f(z)=az+b$ with $a,b\in\Bbb C$. Solution: We take $g : \Bbb C^* \to \Bbb C$, $g( z) = f(1/z)$, which is holomorphic everywhere except the origin. Now, we try to find out what…
r123454321
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Can we prove that all equations can be solved via complex numbers?

$x^2+1=0$ cannot be solved via real numbers. Because of this, we extend the real numbers to complex numbers.We can solve $x^2+1=0$ and $x^2+x+1=0$ equations after we define complex numbers. I wonder if we can solve all equations ( includes only the…
Mathlover
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Proving the Maximum Modulus Principle using the Open Mapping Theorem

I was reading on Wikipedia that "The maximum modulus principle can be viewed as a special case of the open mapping theorem, which states that a nonconstant holomorphic function maps open sets to open sets. If $|f|$ attains a local maximum at $a$,…
I Love Cake
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Cauchy's theorem: what about non-smooth homotopies?

This morning I realized I have never understood a technical issue about Cauchy's theorem (homotopy form) of complex analysis. To illustrate, let me first give a definition. (In what follows $\Omega$ will always denote an open subset of the complex…
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Holomorphic function $\varphi$ with fixed point $z_0$ such that $\varphi'(z_o)=1$ is linear?

This is an exercise in complex analysis: Let $\Omega\subset{\Bbb C}$ be open and bounded, and $\varphi:\Omega\to\Omega$ a holomorphic function. Prove that if there exists a point $z_0\in\Omega$ such that $$ \varphi(z_0)=z_0\qquad\text{and …
user9464
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When does a complex function have a square root?

I would like to show that there is a holomorphic $f$ on a neighborhood of zero such that $f(z)^2=1-\cos(z)$. In other words, I want to show that $1-\cos(z)$ has a complex square root. I know that this has something to do with whether one can define…
Thelonius
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Pointwise convergence of sequences of holomorphic functions to holomorphic functions

Let $(f_{n})_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ be a sequence of holomorphic functions on the open unit disc $D$ in $\mathbb{C}$, and suppose that this sequence converges pointwise to a function $f$. By Osgood's theorem one can conclude then that there is an open…
Sebastian
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Why does a meromorphic function in the (extended) complex plane have finitely many poles?

Let $f$ be meromorphic in $\mathbb{C} \cup \{\infty\}$. Why must $f$ have only finitely many poles? Edit: Renamed question following the comments.
user1205
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