Complex Analysis: C 2012 Peter J. Olver

Chapter 16
Complex Analysis
The term “complex analysis” refers to the calculus of complex-valued functions f (z)
depending on a single complex variable z. On the surface, it may seem that this subject
should merely be a simple reworking of standard real variable theory that you learned
in first year calculus. However, this naı̈ve first impression could not be further from the
truth! Complex analysis is the culmination of a deep and far-ranging study of the fun-
damental notions of complex differentiation and complex integration, and has an elegance
and beauty not found in the more familiar real arena. For instance, complex functions
are always analytic, meaning that they can be represented as convergent power series. As
an immediate consequence, a complex function automatically has an infinite number of
derivatives, and difficulties with degree of smoothness, strange discontinuities, delta func-
tions, and other forms of pathological behavior of real functions never arise in the complex
realm.
The driving force behind many applications of complex analysis is the remarkable and
profound connection between harmonic functions (solutions of the Laplace equation) of
two variables and complex functions. Namely, the real and imaginary parts of a complex
analytic function are automatically harmonic. In this manner, complex functions provide a
rich lode of new solutions to the two-dimensional Laplace equation to help solve boundary
value problems. One of the most useful practical consequences arises from the elementary
observation that the composition of two complex functions is also a complex function. We
interpret this operation as a complex changes of variables, also known as a conformal map-
ping since it preserves angles. Conformal mappings can be effectively used for constructing
solutions to the Laplace equation on complicated planar domains, and play a particularly
important role in the solution of physical problems.
Complex integration also enjoys many remarkable properties not found in its real
sibling. Integrals of complex functions are similar to the line integrals of planar multi-
variable calculus. The remarkable theorem due to Cauchy implies that complex integrals
are generally path-independent — provided one pays proper attention to the complex
singularities of the integrand. In particular, an integral of a complex function around a
closed curve can be directly evaluated through the “calculus of residues”, which effectively
bypasses the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Surprisingly, the method of residues can
even be applied to evaluate certain types of definite real integrals.
In this chapter, we shall introduce the basic techniques and theorems in complex
analysis, paying particular attention to those aspects which are required to solve boundary
value problems associated with the planar Laplace and Poisson equations. Complex anal-
ysis is an essential tool in a surprisingly broad range of applications, including fluid flow,
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c 2012 Peter J. Olver
elasticity, thermostatics, electrostatics, and, in mathematics, geometry, and even number
theory. Indeed, the most famous unsolved problem in all of mathematics, the Riemann hy-
pothesis, is a conjecture about a specific complex function that has profound consequences
for the distribution of prime numbers† .
16.1. Complex Variables.

In this section we shall develop the basics of complex analysis — the calculus of
complex functions f (z). Here z = x + i y is a single complex variable and f : Ω → C is
a complex-valued function defined on a domain z ∈ Ω ⊂ C in the complex plane. Before
diving into this material, you should first make sure you are familiar with the basics of
complex numbers, as discussed in Section 3.6.
Any complex function can be written as a complex combination
f (z) = f (x + i y) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y), (16.1)

of two real functions u, v depending on two real variables x, y, called, respectively, its real
and imaginary parts, and written
u(x, y) = Re f (z), and v(x, y) = Im f (z). (16.2)

For example, the monomial function f (z) = z 3 is written as
z 3 = (x + i y)3 = (x3 − 3 x y 2 ) + i (3 x2 y − y 3 ),
and so
Re z 3 = x3 − 3 x y 2 , Im z 3 = 3 x2 y − y 3 .
We can identify C with the real, two-dimensional plane R 2 , so that the complex
T
number z = x + i y ∈ C is identified with the real vector ( x, y ) ∈ R 2 . Based on this
identification, we shall employ the standard terminology of planar vector calculus, e.g.,
domain, curve, etc., without alteration; see Appendix A for details. In this manner, we
may regard a complex function as particular type of real vector field that maps

x 2 u(x, y)
∈Ω⊂R to the vector v(x, y) = ∈ R 2. (16.3)
y v(x, y)
Not every real vector field qualifies as a complex function; the components u(x, y), v(x, y)
must satisfy certain fairly stringent requirements, which can be found in Theorem 16.3
below.
Many of the well-known functions appearing in real-variable calculus — polynomials,
rational functions, exponentials, trigonometric functions, logarithms, and many others —
have natural complex extensions. For example, complex polynomials
p(z) = an z n + an−1 z n−1 + · · · + a1 z + a0 (16.4)
†
Not to mention that a solution will net you a cool $1,000,000.00. For details on how to claim
your prize, check out the web site http://www.claymath.org.
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are complex linear combinations (meaning that the coefficients ak are allowed to be complex
numbers) of the basic monomial functions z k = (x+ i y)k . Similarly, we have already made
sporadic use of complex exponentials such as
ez = ex+ i y = ex cos y + i ex sin y

for solving differential equations. Other examples will appear shortly.
There are several ways to motivate† the link between harmonic functions u(x, y),
meaning solutions of the two-dimensional Laplace equation
∂ 2u ∂ 2u
∆u = + 2 = 0, (16.5)
∂x2 ∂y
and complex functions. One natural starting point is to return to the d’Alembert solution
(14.124) of the one-dimensional wave equation, which was based on the factorization
2 2 2
= ∂t − c ∂x = (∂t − c ∂x ) (∂t + c ∂x )
of the linear wave operator (14.113). The two-dimensional Laplace operator ∆ = ∂x2 + ∂y2
has essentially the same form, except for a “minor” change in sign‡ . We cannot produce a
real factorization of the Laplace operator, but there is a complex factorization,
∆ = ∂x2 + ∂y2 = (∂x − i ∂y ) (∂x + i ∂y ),

into a product of two complex first order differential operators, having complex “wave
speed” c = i . Mimicking the solution formula (14.121) for the wave equation, we expect
that the solutions to the Laplace equation (16.5) should be expressed in the form
u(x, y) = f (x + i y) + g(x − i y), (16.6)

i.e., a linear combination of functions of the complex variable z = x + i y and its complex
conjugate z = x− i y. The functions f (x+ i y) and g(x− i y) satisfy the first order complex
partial differential equations
∂f ∂f ∂g ∂g
=−i , = i , (16.7)
∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
and hence (16.6) does indeed define a complex-valued solution to the Laplace equation.
In most applications, we are searching for a real solution to the Laplace equation, and
so our d’Alembert-type formula (16.6) is not entirely satisfactory. As we know, a complex
number z = x + i y is real if and only if it equals its own conjugate, z = z. Thus, the
solution (16.6) will be real if and only if
f (x + i y) + g(x − i y) = u(x, y) = u(x, y) = f (x + i y) + g(x − i y).
†
A reader uninterested in the motivation can skip ahead to Proposition 16.1 at this point.
‡
However, the change in sign has serious ramifications for the analytical properties of solutions
to the two equations. As noted in Section 15.1, there is a profound difference between the elliptic
Laplace equation and the hyperbolic wave equation.
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Now, the complex conjugation operation switches x + i y and x − i y, and so we expect the
first term f (x + i y) to be a function of x − i y, while the second term g(x − i y) will be a
function of x + i y. Therefore§ , to equate the two sides of this equation, we should require
g(x − i y) = f (x + i y),
and so
u(x, y) = f (x + i y) + f (x + i y) = 2 Re f (x + i y).
Dropping the inessential factor of 2, we conclude that a real solution to the two-dimensional
Laplace equation can be written as the real part of a complex function. A direct proof of
the following key result will appear below.
Proposition 16.1. If f (z) is a complex function, then its real part
u(x, y) = Re f (x + i y) (16.8)
is a harmonic function.
The imaginary part of a complex function is also harmonic. This is because
Im f (z) = Re (− i f (z))
is the real part of the complex function
− i f (z) = − i [ u(x, y) + i v(x, y)] = v(x, y) − i u(x, y).

Therefore, if f (z) is any complex function, we can write it as a complex combination
f (z) = f (x + i y) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y),

of two real harmonic functions: u(x, y) = Re f (z) and v(x, y) = Im f (z).
Before delving into the many remarkable properties of complex functions, let us look
at some of the most basic examples. In each case, the reader can directly check that
the harmonic functions given as the real and imaginary parts of the complex function are
indeed solutions to the Laplace equation.
Examples of Complex Functions
(a) Harmonic Polynomials: The simplest examples of complex functions are polynomi-
als. Any polynomial is a complex linear combinations, as in (16.4), of the basic complex
monomials
z n = (x + i y)n = un (x, y) + i vn (x, y). (16.9)
The real and imaginary parts of a complex polynomial are known as harmonic polynomials,
and we list the first few below. The general formula for the basic harmonic polynomials
§
We are ignoring the fact that f and g are not quite uniquely determined since one can add
and subtract a constant from them. This does not affect the argument in any significant way.
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Re z 2 Re z 3
Im z 2 Im z 3
Figure 16.1. Real and Imaginary Parts of z 2 and z 3 .
un (x, y) and vn (x, y) is easily found by applying the binomial theorem to expand (16.9),
as in Exercise .
Harmonic Polynomials
n zn un (x, y) vn (x, y)
0 1 1 0
1 x+ iy x y
2 (x − y 2 ) + 2 i x y
2
x − y2
2
2xy
3 (x3 − 3 x y 2 ) + i (3 x2 y − y 3 ) x3 − 3 x y 2 3 x2 y − y 3
4 (x4 − 6 x2 y 2 + y 4 ) + i (4 x3 y − 4 x y 3 ) x4 − 6 x2 y 2 + y 4 4 x3 y − 4 x y 3
.. .. .. ..
. . . .
We have, in fact, already encountered these polynomial solutions to the Laplace equa-
tion. If we write
z = r e i θ, (16.10)
where
p y
r = |z| = x2 + y 2 , θ = ph z = tan−1 ,
x
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1 1
Re z Im z
1
Figure 16.2. Real and Imaginary Parts of f (z) = z .
are the usual polar coordinates (modulus and phase) of z = x + i y, then Euler’s for-
mula (3.84) yields
z n = r n e i n θ = r n cos n θ + i r n sin n θ,
and so
un = r n cos n θ, vn = r n sin n θ.
Therefore, the harmonic polynomials are just the polar coordinate separablesolutions
(15.38) to the Laplace equation. In Figure 16.1 we plot† the real and imaginary parts
of the monomials z 2 and z 3 .
(b) Rational Functions: Ratios
p(z)
f (z) = (16.11)
q(z)
of complex polynomials provide a large variety of harmonic functions. The simplest case
is
1 z z x y
= = 2
= 2 2
−i 2 . (16.12)
z zz |z| x +y x + y2
Its real and imaginary parts are graphed in Figure 16.2. Note that these functions have
an interesting singularity at the origin x = y = 0, but are harmonic everywhere else.
A slightly more complicated example is the function
z−1
f (z) = . (16.13)
z+1
†
Graphing a complex function f : C → C is problematic. The identification (16.3) of f with
a real vector-valued function f : R 2 → R 2 implies that four real dimensions are needed to display
its complete graph.
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To write out (16.13) in real form, we multiply and divide by the complex conjugate of the
denominator, leading to
z−1 (z − 1)(z + 1) | z |2 + z − z − 1 x2 + y 2 − 1 2y
f (z) = = = 2
= 2 2
+i .
z+1 (z + 1)(z + 1) |z + 1| (x + 1) + y (x + 1)2 + y 2
(16.14)
This manipulation can always be used to find the real and imaginary parts of general
rational functions.
(c) Complex Exponentials: Euler’s formula
ez = ex cos y + i ex sin y (16.15)

for the complex exponential, cf. (3.84), yields two important harmonic functions: ex cos y
and ex sin y, which are graphed in Figure 3.8. More generally, writing out ec z for a complex
constant c = a + i b produces the complex exponential function
ec z = ea x−b y cos(b x + a y) + i ea x−b y sin(b x + a y). (16.16)

Its real and imaginary parts are harmonic functions for arbitrary a, b ∈ R. Some of these
were found by applying the separation of variables method in Cartesian coordinates; see
the table in Section 15.2.
(d) Complex Trigonometric Functions: The complex trigonometric functions are de-
fined in terms of the complex exponential by adapting our earlier formulae (3.86):
e i z + e− i z
cos z = = cos x cosh y − i sin x sinh y,
2 (16.17)
e i z − e− i z
sin z = = sin x cosh y + i cos x sinh y.
2i
The resulting harmonic functions are products of trigonometric and hyperbolic functions.
They can all be written as linear combinations of the harmonic functions (16.16) derived
from the complex exponential. Note that when z = x is real, so y = 0, these functions
reduce to the usual real trigonometric functions cos x and sin x.
(e) Complex Logarithm: In a similar fashion, the complex logarithm log z is a complex
extension of the usual real natural (i.e., base e) logarithm. In terms of polar coordinates
(16.10), the complex logarithm has the form
log z = log(r e i θ ) = log r + log e i θ = log r + i θ, (16.18)

Thus, the logarithm of a complex number has real part
Re (log z) = log r = log | z | = 1

2 log(x2 + y 2 ),
which is a well-defined harmonic function on all of R 2 except for a logarithmic singularity
at the origin x = y = 0. It is, in fact, the logarithmic potential corresponding to a delta
function forcing concentrated at the origin that played a key role in our construction of
the Green’s function for the Poisson equation in Section 15.3.
The imaginary part
Im (log z) = θ = ph z
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Re (log z) = log | z | Im (log z) = ph z
Figure 16.3. Real and Imaginary Parts of log z.
of the complex logarithm is the phase (argument) or polar angle of z. The phase is also
not defined at the origin x = y = 0. Moreover, it is a multi-valued harmonic function
elsewhere, since it is only specified up to integer multiples of 2 π. Thus, a given nonzero
complex number z 6= 0 has an infinite number of possible values for its phase, and hence an
infinite number of possible complex logarithms log z, each differing by an integer multiple
of 2 π i , reflecting the fact that e2 π i = 1. In particular, if z = x > 0 is real and positive,
then log z = log x agrees with the real logarithm, provided we choose the angle ph z = 0.
Alternative choices for the phase include an integer multiple of 2 π i , and so ordinary real,
positive numbers x > 0 also have complex logarithms! On the other hand, if z = x < 0 is
real and negative, then log z = log | x | + (2 k + 1) π i is complex no matter which value of
ph z is chosen. (This explains why we didn’t attempt to define the logarithm of a negative
number in first year calculus!) As the point z circles around the origin in a counter-
clockwise direction, Im log z = ph z = θ increases by 2 π. Thus, its graph can be likened to
a parking ramp with infinitely many levels, spiraling ever upwards as one circumabulates
the origin; Figure 16.3 attempts to sketch it. For the complex logarithm, the origin is a
type of singularity known as a logarithmic branch point, the “branches” referring to the
infinite number of possible values that can be assigned to log z at any nonzero point.
(f ) Roots and Fractional Powers: A similar branching phenomenon occurs with the
fractional√powers and roots of complex numbers. The simplest case is the square root
function √ z. Every √ nonzero complex number z 6= 0 has two different possible square
roots: z and − z. As illustrated in Figure 16.4, the two square roots lie on opposite
sides of the origin, and are obtained by multiplying by −1. Writing z = r e i θ in polar
coordinates, we see that
√
√ √ i θ/2
√ θ θ
z = r eiθ = r e = r cos + i sin , (16.19)
2 2
i.e., we take the square root of the modulus and halve the phase:
√ p √ √
z = |z| = r, ph z= 1
ph z = 1
θ.
2 2
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z
√
z
√
− z
Figure 16.4. Square Roots of a Complex Number.
Since θ = ph z is only defined up to an integer multiple of 2 π, the angle 12 θ is only defined

up to an integer multiple of π. The even and odd multiples yield different values for
(16.19), which accounts for the two possible values of the square root. For instance, since
ph 4 i = 21 π or 25 π, we find

√ √ π i π i √ √
4 i = 2 i = ± 2 eπ i /4 = ± 2 cos + i sin =± 2+ i 2 .
4 4
If we
√ start at some z 6= 0 and circle once around the origin, we increase ph z by 2 π,
but ph z only√increases by π. Thus, at the end of our circuit, we arrive at the other
square root − z. Circling the origin again√ increases ph z by a further 2 π, and hence
brings us back to the original square root z. Therefore, the graph of the multiply-valued
square root function will look like a weirdly interconnected parking ramp with only two
levels, as shown in† Figure 16.5.
Similar remarks apply to the nth root

√
n
√
n i θ/n
√n
θ θ
z= re = r cos + i sin , (16.20)
n n
which, except for z = 0, has n possible values, depending upon which multiple of 2 π is
used in the assignment of ph z = θ. The n different nth roots are obtained by multiplying
any one of them by the different nth roots of unity, ζnk = e2 k π i /n for k = 0, . . . , n − 1, as
defined in (13.11). In this case, the origin z = √
0 is called a branch point of order n since
there are n different branches for the function n z. Circling around the origin a total of n
times leads to the n branches in succession, returning in the end to the original.
The preceding list of elementary examples is far from exhausting the range and va-
riety of complex functions. Lack of space will preclude us from studying the remarkable
properties of complex versions of the gamma function, Airy functions, Bessel functions,
†
These graphs are best appreciated in an interactive three-dimensional graphics viewer.
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√
Figure 16.5. Real and Imaginary Parts of z.
and Legendre functions that appear in Appendix C, as well as elliptic functions, the Rie-
mann zeta function, modular functions, and many, many other important and fascinating
functions arising in complex analysis and its manifold applications; see [179, 190].
16.2. Complex Differentiation.

The bedrock of complex function theory is the notion of the complex derivative. Com-
plex differentiation is defined in the same manner as the usual calculus limit definition of
the derivative of a real function. Yet, despite a superficial similarity, complex differenti-
ation is profoundly different, and displays an elegance and depth not shared by its real
progenitor.
Definition 16.2. A complex function f (z) is differentiable at a point z ∈ C if and

only if the limiting difference quotient exists:
f (w) − f (z)
f ′ (z) = lim . (16.21)
w→z w−z
The key feature of this definition is that the limiting value f ′ (z) of the difference
quotient must be independent of how w converges to z. On the real line, there are only
two directions to approach a limiting point — either from the left or from the right. These
lead to the concepts of left and right handed derivatives and their equality is required for
the existence of the usual derivative of a real function. In the complex plane, there are
an infinite variety of directions to approach the point z, and the definition requires that
all of these “directional derivatives” must agree. This is the reason for the more severe
restrictions on complex derivatives, and, in consequence, the source of their remarkable
properties.
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z + ik
z z+h
Figure 16.6. Complex Derivative Directions.
Let us first see what happens when we approach z along the two simplest directions
— horizontal and vertical. If we set
w = z + h = (x + h) + i y, where h is real,
then w → z along a horizontal line as h → 0, as sketched in Figure 16.6. If we write out
f (z) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y)
in terms of its real and imaginary parts, then we must have
f (z + h) − f (z) f (x + h + i y) − f (x + i y)
f ′ (z) = lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h

u(x + h, y) − u(x, y) v(x + h, y) − v(x, y) ∂u ∂v ∂f
= lim +i = +i = ,
h→0 h h ∂x ∂x ∂x
which follows from the usual definition of the (real) partial derivative. On the other hand,
if we set
w = z + i k = x + i (y + k), where k is real,
then w → z along a vertical line as k → 0. Therefore, we must also have

′ f (z + i k) − f (z) f (x + i (y + k)) − f (x + i y)
f (z) = lim = lim − i
k→0 ik k→0 k

v(x, y + k) − v(x, y) u(x, y + k) − u(x, y) ∂v ∂u ∂f
= lim −i = −i = −i .
h→0 k k ∂y ∂y ∂y
When we equate the real and imaginary parts of these two distinct formulae for the complex
derivative f ′ (z), we discover that the real and imaginary components of f (z) must satisfy a
certain homogeneous linear system of partial differential equations, named after Augustin–
Louis Cauchy and Bernhard Riemann† , two of the principal founders of modern complex
†
In addition to his contributions to complex analysis, partial differential equations and number
theory, Bernhard Riemann also was the inventor of Riemannian geometry, which turned out to
be absolutely essential for Einstein’s theory of general relativity some 70 years later!
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analysis.
Theorem 16.3. A function f (z) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y), where z = x + i y, has a
complex derivative f ′ (z) if and only if its real and imaginary parts are continuously differ-
entiable and satisfy the Cauchy–Riemann equations
∂u ∂v ∂u ∂v
= , =− . (16.22)
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
In this case, the complex derivative of f (z) is equal to any of the following expressions:
∂f ∂u ∂v ∂f ∂v ∂u
f ′ (z) = = +i = −i = −i . (16.23)
∂x ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂y
The proof of the converse — that any function whose real and imaginary components
satisfy the Cauchy–Riemann equations is differentiable — will be omitted, but can be
found in any basic text on complex analysis, e.g., [4, 160].
Remark : It is worth pointing out that equation (16.23) tells us that f satisfies ∂f /∂x =
− i ∂f /∂y, which, reassuringly, agrees with the first equation in (16.7).
Example 16.4. Consider the elementary function
z 3 = (x3 − 3 x y 2 ) + i (3 x2 y − y 3 ).
Its real part u = x3 − 3 x y 2 and imaginary part v = 3 x2 y − y 3 satisfy the Cauchy–Riemann
equations (16.22), since
∂u ∂v ∂u ∂v
= 3 x2 − 3 y 2 = , = −6xy = − .
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
Theorem 16.3 implies that f (z) = z 3 is complex differentiable. Not surprisingly, its deriva-
tive turns out to be
∂u ∂v ∂v ∂u
f ′ (z) = 3 z 2 = (3 x2 − 3 y 2 ) + i (6 x y) = +i = −i .
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y
Fortunately, the complex derivative obeys all of the usual rules that you learned in
real-variable calculus. For example,
d n d cz d 1
z = n z n−1 , e = c ec z , log z = , (16.24)
dz dz dz z
and so on. The power n can even be non-integral or, in view of the identity z n = en log z ,
complex, while c is any complex constant. The exponential formulae (16.17) for the com-
plex trigonometric functions implies that they also satisfy the standard rules
d d
cos z = − sin z, sin z = cos z. (16.25)
dz dz
The formulae for differentiating sums, products, ratios, inverses, and compositions of com-
plex functions are all identical to their real counterparts. Thus, thankfully, you don’t need
to learn any new rules for performing complex differentiation!
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Remark : There are many examples of seemingly reasonable functions which do not
have a complex derivative. The simplest is the complex conjugate function
f (z) = z = x − i y.
Its real and imaginary parts do not satisfy the Cauchy–Riemann equations, and hence z
does not have a complex derivative. More generally, any function f (x, y) = h(z, z) that
explicitly depends on the complex conjugate variable z is not complex-differentiable.
Power Series and Analyticity

The most remarkable feature of complex analysis, which distinguishes it from real
function theory, is that the existence of one complex derivative automatically implies the
existence of infinitely many! All complex functions f (z) are infinitely differentiable and, in
fact, analytic where defined. The reason for this surprising and profound fact will, however,
not become evident until we learn the basics of complex integration in Section 16.5. In
this section, we shall take analyticity as a given, and investigate some of its principal
consequences.
Definition 16.5. A complex function f (z) is called analytic at a point z0 if it has a
power series expansion
∞
X
f (z) = a0 + a1 (z − z0 ) + a2 (z − z0 )2 + a3 (z − z0 )3 + · · · = an (z − z0 )n , (16.26)
n=0
which converges for all z sufficiently close to z0 .

Typically, the standard ratio or root tests for convergence of (real) series that you
learned in ordinary calculus, [9, 171], can be applied to determine where a given (complex)
power series converges. We note that if f (z) and g(z) are analytic at a point z0 , so is their
sum f (z) + g(z), product f (z) g(z) and, provided g(z0 ) 6= 0, ratio f (z)/g(z).
Example 16.6. All of the real power series found in elementary calculus carry over
to the complex versions of the functions. For example,
X∞
z 1 2 1 zn
3
e = 1+z + z + z + ··· =
2 6 (16.27)
n=0
n!
is the Taylor series for the exponential function based at z0 = 0. A simple application
of the ratio test proves that the series converges for all z. On the other hand, the power
series
∞
X
1 2 4 6
2
= 1 − z + z − z + · · · = (−1)k z 2 k , (16.28)
z +1
k=0
converges inside the unit disk, where | z | < 1, and diverges outside, where | z | > 1. Again,
convergence is established through the ratio test. The ratio test is inconclusive when
| z | = 1, and we shall leave the more delicate question of precisely where on the unit disk
this complex series converges to a more advanced treatment, e.g., [4].
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In general, there are three possible options for the domain of convergence of a complex
power series (16.26):
(a) The series converges for all z.
(b) The series converges inside a disk | z − z0 | < ρ of radius ρ > 0 centered at z0 and
diverges for all | z − z0 | > ρ outside the disk. The series may converge at some
(but not all) of the points on the boundary of the disk where | z − z0 | = ρ.
(c) The series only converges, trivially, at z = z0 .
The number ρ is known as the radius of convergence of the series. In case (a), we say
ρ = ∞, while in case (c), ρ = 0, and theP series does not represent an analytic function. An
example with ρ = 0 is the power series n! z n . In the intermediate case (b), determining
precisely where on the boundary of the convergence disk the power series converges is quite
delicate, and will not be pursued here. The proof of this result can be found in Exercise
; see also [4, 95] for further details.
Remarkably, the radius of convergence for the power series of a known analytic function
f (z) can be determined by inspection, without recourse to any fancy convergence tests!
Namely, ρ is equal to the distance from z0 to the nearest singularity of f (z), meaning a
point where the function fails to be analytic. This explains why the Taylor series of ez
converges everywhere, while that of (z 2 + 1)−1 only converges inside the unit disk. Indeed
ez is analytic for all z and has no singularities; therefore the radius of convergence of its
power series — centered at any point z0 — is equal to ρ = ∞. On the other hand, the
function
1 1
f (z) = 2 =
z +1 (z + i )(z − i )
has singularities at z = ± i , and so the series (16.28) has radius of convergence ρ = 1,
which is the distance from z0 = 0 to the singularities. Thus, the extension of the theory
of power series to the complex plane serves to explain the apparent mystery of why, as
a real function, (1 + x2 )−1 is well-defined and analytic for all real x, but its power series
only converges on the interval ( −1, 1 ). It is the complex singularities that prevent its
convergence when | x | > 1. If we expand (z 2 + 1)−1 in a power series at some other point,
say z0 = 1 + 2 i , then we √ need to determine which singularity √ is closest. We compute
| i − z0 | = | −1 −√i | = 2, while | − i − z0 | = | −1 − 3 i | = 10, and so the radius of
convergence ρ = 2 is the smaller. Thus we can determine the radius of convergence
without any explicit formula for its (rather complicated) Taylor expansion at z0 = 1 + 2 i .
There are, in fact, only three possible types of singularities of a complex function f (z):
(i ) Pole. A singular point z = z0 is called a pole of order n > 0 if and only if
h(z)
f (z) = , (16.29)
(z − z0 )n
where h(z) is analytic at z = z0 and h(z0 ) 6= 0. The simplest example of such a
function is f (z) = a (z − z0 )−n for a 6= 0 a complex constant.
(ii ) Branch point. We have already√encountered the two basic types: algebraic branch
points, such as the function n z at z0 = 0, and logarithmic branch points such as
log z at z0 = 0. The degree of the branch point is n in the first case and ∞ in the
second.
12/11/12 870
(iii ) Essential singularity. By definition, a singularity is essential if it is not a pole or a
branch point. The simplest example is the essential singularity at z0 = 0 of the
function e1/z . Details are left as an Exercise .
Example 16.7. The complex function
ez ez
f (z) = 3 =
z − z2 − 5 z − 3 (z − 3)(z + 1)2
is analytic everywhere except for singularities at the points z = 3 and z = −1, where its
denominator vanishes. Since
h1 (z) ez
f (z) = , where h1 (z) =
z−3 (z + 1)2
1 3
is analytic at z = 3 and h1 (3) = 16 e 6= 0, we see that z = 3 is a simple (order 1) pole for
f (z). Similarly,
h2 (z) ez
f (z) = , where h2 (z) =
(z + 1)2 z−3
is analytic at z = −1 with h2 (−1) = − 41 e−1 6= 0, we see that the point z = −1 is a double

(order 2) pole.
A complicated complex function can have a variety of singularities. For example, the
function √
3
z + 2 e− 1/z
f (z) = (16.30)
z2 + 1
has simple poles at z = ± i , a branch point of degree 3 at z = −2, and an essential
singularity at z = 0.
As in the real case, and unlike Fourier series, convergent power series can always be
repeatedly term-wise differentiated. Therefore, given the convergent series (16.26), we have
the corresponding series
∞
X
f ′ (z) = a1 + 2 a2 (z − z0 ) + 3 a3 (z − z0 )2 + 4 a4 (z − z0 )3 + · · · = (n + 1) an+1 (z − z0 )n ,
n=0
′′ 2 3
f (z) = 2 a2 + 6 a3 (z − z0 ) + 12 a4 (z − z0 ) + 20 a5 (z − z0 ) + · · ·
X∞
= (n + 1)(n + 2) an+2 (z − z0 )n , (16.31)
n=0
and so on, for its derivatives. The proof that the differentiated series have the same
radius of convergence can be found in [4, 160]. As a consequence, we deduce the following
important result.
Theorem 16.8. Any analytic function is infinitely differentiable.
12/11/12 871
z0
ρ
Ω
Figure 16.7. Radius of Convergence.
In particular, when we substitute z = z0 into the successively differentiated series, we

discover that
1
a0 = f (z0 ), a1 = f ′ (z0 ), a2 = 2 f ′′ (z0 ),
and, in general,
f (n) (z)
an = . (16.32)
n!
Therefore, a convergent power series (16.26) is, inevitably, the usual Taylor series
X∞
f (n) (z0 )
f (z) = (z − z0 )n , (16.33)
n=0
n!
for the function f (z) at the point z0 .

Let us conclude this section by summarizing the fundamental theorem that character-
izes complex functions. A complete, rigorous proof relies on complex integration theory,
which is the topic of Section 16.5.
Theorem 16.9. Let Ω ⊂ C be an open set. The following properties are equivalent:
(a) The function f (z) has a continuous complex derivative f ′ (z) for all z ∈ Ω.
(b) The real and imaginary parts of f (z) have continuous partial derivatives and satisfy
the Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.22) in Ω.
(c) The function f (z) is analytic for all z ∈ Ω, and so is infinitely differentiable and has a
convergent power series expansion at each point z0 ∈ Ω. The radius of convergence
ρ is at least as large as the distance from z0 to the boundary ∂Ω; see Figure 16.7.
From now on, we reserve the term complex function to signifiy one that satisfies the
conditions of Theorem 16.9. Sometimes one of the equivalent adjectives “analytic” or
“holomorphic”, is added for emphasis. From now on, all complex functions are assumed to
be analytic everywhere on their domain of definition, except, possibly, at certain isolated
singularities.
12/11/12 872
16.3. Harmonic Functions.
We began this section by motivating the analysis of complex functions through appli-
cations to the solution of the two-dimensional Laplace equation. Let us now formalize the
precise relationship between the two subjects.
Theorem 16.10. If f (z) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y) is any complex analytic function, then
its real and imaginary parts, u(x, y), v(x, y), are both harmonic functions.
Proof : Differentiating† the Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.22), and invoking the
equality of mixed partial derivatives, we find that

∂ 2u ∂ ∂u ∂ ∂v ∂ 2v ∂ ∂v ∂ ∂u ∂ 2u
= = = = = − = − .
∂x2 ∂x ∂x ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂y 2
Therefore, u is a solution to the Laplace equation uxx + uyy = 0. The proof for v is
similar. Q.E.D.
Thus, every complex function gives rise to two harmonic functions. It is, of course, of
interest to know whether we can invert this procedure. Given a harmonic function u(x, y),
does there exist a harmonic function v(x, y) such that f = u + i v is a complex analytic
function? If so, the harmonic function v(x, y) is known as a harmonic conjugate to u. The
harmonic conjugate is found by solving the Cauchy–Riemann equations
∂v ∂u ∂v ∂u
=− , = , (16.34)
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
which, for a prescribed function u(x, y), constitutes an inhomogeneous linear system of
partial differential equations for v(x, y). As such, it is usually not hard to solve, as the
following example illustrates.
Example 16.11. As the reader can verify, the harmonic polynomial
u(x, y) = x3 − 3 x2 y − 3 x y 2 + y 3
satisfies the Laplace equation everywhere. To find a harmonic conjugate, we solve the
Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.34). First of all,
∂v ∂u
=− = 3 x2 + 6 x y − 3 y 2 ,
∂x ∂y
and hence, by direct integration with respect to x,
v(x, y) = x3 + 3 x2 y − 3 x y 2 + h(y),
where h(y) — the “constant of integration” — is a function of y alone. To determine h we
substitute our formula into the second Cauchy–Riemann equation:
∂v ∂u
3 x2 − 6 x y + h′ (y) = = = 3 x2 − 6 x y − 3 y 2 .
∂y ∂x
†
Theorem 16.9 allows us to differentiate u and v as often as desired.
12/11/12 873
Therefore, h′ (y) = − 3 y 2 , and so h(y) = − y 3 + c, where c is a real constant. We conclude
that every harmonic conjugate to u(x, y) has the form
v(x, y) = x3 + 3 x2 y − 3 x y 2 − y 3 + c.
Note that the corresponding complex function
u(x, y) + i v(x, y) = (x3 − 3 x2 y − 3 x y 2 + y 3 ) + i (x3 + 3 x2 y − 3 x y 2 − y 3 + c)
= (1 − i )z 3 + c
turns out to be a complex cubic polynomial.
Remark : On a connected domain, all harmonic conjugates to a given function u(x, y)
only differ by a constant: ve(x, y) = v(x, y) + c; see Exercise .
Although most harmonic functions have harmonic conjugates, unfortunately this is
not always the case. Interestingly, the existence or non-existence of a harmonic conjugate
can depend on the underlying geometry of the domain of definition of the function. If the
domain is simply-connected, and so contains no holes, then one can always find a harmonic
conjugate. Otherwise, if the domain of definition Ω of our harmonic function u(x, y) is not
simply-connected, then there may not exist a single-valued harmonic conjugate v(x, y) to
serve as the imaginary part of a complex function f (z).
Example 16.12. The simplest example where the latter possibility occurs is the
logarithmic potential
u(x, y) = log r = 21 log(x2 + y 2 ).
This function is harmonic on the non-simply-connected domain Ω = C \ {0}, but it is
not the real part of any single-valued complex function. Indeed, according to (16.18), the
logarithmic potential is the real part of the multiply-valued complex logarithm log z, and
so its harmonic conjugate† is ph z = θ, which cannot be consistently and continuously
defined on all of Ω. On the other hand, restricting z to a simply connected subdomain
e 6∋ 0 allows us to select a continuous, single-valued branch of the angle θ = ph z, and so
Ω
log r does have a genuine harmonic conjugate on Ω. e
The harmonic function
x
u(x, y) =
x2 + y2
is also defined on the same non-simply-connected domain Ω = C \ {0} with a singularity
at x = y = 0. In this case, there is a single valued harmonic conjugate, namely
y
v(x, y) = − 2 ,
x + y2
which is defined on all of Ω. Indeed, according to (16.12), these functions define the real
and imaginary parts of the complex function u + i v = 1/z. Alternatively, one can directly
check that they satisfy the Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.22).
†
We can, by a previous remark, add in any constant to the harmonic conjugate, but this does
not affect the subsequent argument.
12/11/12 874
Remark : On the “punctured” plane Ω = C \ {0}, the logarithmic potential is, in a
sense, the only counterexample that prevents a harmonic conjugate from being constructed.
It can be shown,
[XC], that
if u(x, y) is a harmonic function defined on a punctured
disk ΩR = 0 < | z | < R , where 0 < R ≤ ∞, then there exists a constant c such
that ue(x, y) = u(x, y) − c log r is also harmonic and possess a single-valued harmonic
conjugate ve(x, y). As a result, the function fe = u e + i ve is analytic on all of ΩR , and
so our original function u(x, y) is the real part of the multiply-valued analytic function
f (z) = fe(z) + c log z. We shall use this fact in our later analysis of airfoils.
Theorem 16.13. Every harmonic function u(x, y) defined on a simply-connected
domain Ω is the real part of a complex valued function f (z) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y) which is
defined for all z = x + i y ∈ Ω.
Proof : We first rewrite the Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.34) in vectorial form as
an equation for the gradient of v:

⊥ ⊥ − uy
∇v = ∇ u, where ∇ u= (16.35)
ux
is the vector field that is everywhere orthogonal to the gradient of u and of the same length:
∇u · ∇⊥ u = 0, k ∇⊥ u k = k ∇u k.
These properties along with the right hand rule serve to uniquely characterize ∇u⊥ . Thus,
the gradient of a harmonic function and that of its harmonic conjugate are mutually
orthogonal vector fields having the same Euclidean lengths:
∇u · ∇v ≡ 0, |k ∇u k| ≡ k ∇v k. (16.36)
Now, according to Theorem A.8, provided we work on a simply-connected domain,
the gradient equation
f1
∇v = f =
f2
has a solution if and only if the vector field f satisfies the curl-free constraint
∂f2 ∂f
∇∧f = − 1 ≡ 0.
∂x ∂y
In our specific case, the curl of the perpendicular vector field ∇u⊥ coincides with the
divergence of ∇u, which, in turn, coincides with the Laplacian:

⊥ ∂ ∂u ∂ ∂u ∂ 2u ∂ 2u
∇ ∧ ∇u = ∇ · ∇u = ∆u = 0, i.e., − − = + 2 = 0.
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x2 ∂y
The result is zero because we are assuming that u is harmonic. Equation (A.41) permits us
to reconstruct the harmonic conjugate v(x, y) from its gradient ∇v through line integration
Z Z Z
⊥
v(x, y) = ∇v · dx = ∇u · dx = ∇u · n ds, (16.37)
C C C
12/11/12 875
Figure 16.8. Level Curves of the Real and Imaginary Parts of z 2 and z 3 .
where C is any curve connecting a fixed point (x0 , y0 ) to (x, y). Therefore, the har-
monic conjugate to a given potential function u can be obtained by evaluating its (path-
independent) flux integral (16.37). Q.E.D.
Remark : As a consequence of (16.23) and the Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.34),
∂u ∂u ∂v ∂v
f ′ (z) = −i = +i . (16.38)
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
Thus, the individual components of the gradients ∇u and ∇v appear as the real and
imaginary parts of the complex derivative f ′ (z).
The orthogonality (16.35) of the gradient of a function and of its harmonic conjugate
has the following important geometric consequence. Recall, Theorem A.14, that the gradi-
ent ∇u of a function u(x, y) points in the normal direction to its level curves, that is, the
sets { u(x, y) = c } where it assumes a fixed constant value. Since ∇v is orthogonal to ∇u,
this must mean that ∇v is tangent to the level curves of u. Vice versa, ∇v is normal to its
level curves, and so ∇u is tangent to the level curves of its harmonic conjugate v. Since
their tangent directions ∇u and ∇v are orthogonal, the level curves of the real and imagi-
nary parts of a complex function form a mutually orthogonal system of plane curves — but
with one key exception. If we are at a critical point, where ∇u = 0, then ∇v = ∇u⊥ = 0,
and the vectors do not define tangent directions. Therefore, the orthogonality of the level
curves does not necessarily hold at critical points. It is worth pointing out that, in view of
(16.38), the critical points of u are the same as those of v and also the same as the critical
points of the corresponding complex function f (z), i.e., those points where its complex
derivative vanishes: f ′ (z) = 0.
In Figure 16.8, we illustrate the preceding discussion by plotting the level curves of
the real and imaginary parts of the monomials z 2 and z 3 . Note that, except at the origin,
where the derivative vanishes, the level curves intersect everywhere at right angles.
12/11/12 876
Applications to Fluid Mechanics
Consider a planar† steady state fluid flow, with velocity vector field

u(x, y)
v(x) = at the point x = (x, y) ∈ Ω.
v(x, y)
Here Ω ⊂ R 2 is the domain occupied by the fluid, while the vector v(x) represents the
instantaneous velocity of the fluid at the point x. Recall that the flow is incompressible if
and only if it has vanishing divergence:
∂u ∂v
∇·v = + = 0. (16.39)
∂x ∂y
Incompressibility means that the fluid volume does not change as it flows. Most liquids,
including water, are, for all practical purposes, incompressible. On the other hand, the
flow is irrotational if and only if it has vanishing curl:
∂v ∂u
∇∧v = − = 0. (16.40)
∂x ∂y
Irrotational flows has no vorticity or circulation and model fluids in non-turbulent condi-
tions. In many physical situations, the flow of liquids (and, although less often, gases) is
both incompressible and irrotational, which for short, is designated an ideal fluid flow .
The two constraints (16.39–40) are almost identical to the Cauchy–Riemann equations
(16.22)! The only difference is the change in sign in front of the derivatives of v, but this
can be easily remedied by replacing v by its negative − v. As a result, we deduce a profound
connection between ideal planar fluid flows and complex functions.
T
Theorem 16.14. The vector field v = ( u(x, y), v(x, y) ) is the velocity vector of
an ideal fluid flow if and only if
f (z) = u(x, y) − i v(x, y) (16.41)

is a complex analytic function of z = x + i y.
Thus, the components u(x, y) and − v(x, y) of the velocity vector field for an ideal fluid
are harmonic conjugates. The complex function (16.41) is known as the complex velocity
of the fluid flow. When applying this result, do not forget the minus sign that appears in
front of the imaginary part of f (z).
As discussed in Example A.7, the fluid particles will follow the trajectories z(t) =
x(t) + i y(t) obtained by integrating the differential equations
dx dy
= u(x, y), = v(x, y). (16.42)
dt dt
†
See the remarks in Appendix A on the interpretation of a planar fluid flow as the cross-section
of a fully three-dimensional fluid motion that does not depend upon the vertical coordinate.
12/11/12 877
f (z) = 1 f (z) = 4 + 3 i f (z) = z
Figure 16.9. Complex Fluid Flows.
In view of the representation (16.41), we can rewrite the system in complex form
dz
= f (z) . (16.43)
dt
In fluid mechanics, the curves† parametrized by z(t) are known as the streamlines. Each
fluid particle’s motion z(t) is uniquely prescribed by its position z(t0 ) = z0 = x0 + i y0 at an
initial time t0 . In particular, if the complex velocity vanishes, f (z0 ) = 0, then the solution
z(t) ≡ z0 to (16.43) is constant, and hence z0 is a stagnation point of the flow. Our steady
state assumption, which is reflected in the fact that the ordinary differential equations
(16.42) are autonomous, i.e., there is no explicit t dependence, means that, although the
fluid is in motion, the stream lines and stagnation point do not change over time. This is
a consequence of the standard existence and uniqueness theorems for solutions to ordinary
differential equations, to be discussed in detail in Chapter 20.
Example 16.15. The simplest example is when the velocity is constant, correspond-
ing to a uniform, steady flow. Consider first the case
f (z) = 1,
T
which corresponds to the horizontal velocity vector field v = ( 1, 0 ) . The actual fluid flow
is found by integrating the system
z = 1, or x = 1, y = 0.

Thus, the solution z(t) = t +z0 represents a uniform horizontal fluid motion whose stream-
lines are straight lines parallel to the real axis; see Figure 16.9.
Consider next a more general constant velocity
f (z) = c = a + i b.
The fluid particles will solve the ordinary differential equation
z = c = a − i b, so that z(t) = c t + z0 .

†
See below for more details on complex curves.
12/11/12 878
The streamlines remain parallel straight lines, but now at an angle θ = ph c = − ph c with
the horizontal. The fluid particles move along the streamlines at constant speed | c | = | c |.
The next simplest complex velocity function is
f (z) = z = x + i y. (16.44)
The corresponding fluid flow is found by integrating the system
z = z, or, in real form, x = x, y = − y.

The origin x = y = 0 is a stagnation point. The trajectories of the nonstationary solutions
z(t) = x0 et + i y0 e−t (16.45)

are the hyperbolas x y = c, and the positive and negative coordinate semi-axes, as illus-
trated in Figure 16.9.
On the other hand, if we choose
f (z) = − i z = y − i x,
then the flow is the solution to

z = i z, or, in real form, x = y, y = x.

The solutions
z(t) = (x0 cosh t + y0 sinh t) + i (x0 sinh t + y0 cosh t),

move along the hyperbolas (and rays) x2 − y 2 = c2 . Observe that this flow can be obtained
by rotating the preceding example by 45◦ .
In general, a solid object in a fluid flow is characterized by the no-flux condition that
the fluid velocity v is everywhere tangent to the boundary, and hence no fluid flows into
or out of the object. As a result, the boundary will consist of streamlines and stagnation
points of the idealized fluid flow. For example, the boundary of the upper right quadrant
Q = { x > 0, y > 0 } ⊂ C consists of the positive x and y axes (along with the origin).
Since these are streamlines of the flow with complex velocity (16.44), its restriction to Q
represents the flow past a 90◦ interior corner, which appears in Figure 16.10. The fluid
particles move along hyperbolas as they flow past the corner.
Remark : We could also restrict this flow to the domain Ω = C \ { x < 0, y < 0 }
consisting of three quadrants, corresponding to a 90◦ exterior corner. However, this flow is
not as physically relevant since it has an unrealistic asymptotic behavior at large distances.
See Exercise for the “correct” physical flow around an exterior corner.
Now, suppose that the complex velocity f (z) admits a complex anti-derivative, i.e., a
complex analytic function
dχ
χ(z) = ϕ(x, y) + i ψ(x, y) that satisfies = f (z). (16.46)
dz
12/11/12 879
Figure 16.10. Flow Inside a Corner.
Using the formula (16.23) for the complex derivative,

dχ ∂ϕ ∂ϕ ∂ϕ ∂ϕ
= −i = u − i v, so = u, = v.
dz ∂x ∂y ∂x ∂y
Thus, ∇ϕ = v, and hence the real part ϕ(x, y) of the complex function χ(z) defines a
velocity potential for the fluid flow. For this reason, the anti-derivative χ(z) is known as a
complex potential function for the given fluid velocity field.
Since the complex potential is analytic, its real part — the potential function — is
harmonic, and therefore satisfies the Laplace equation ∆ϕ = 0. Conversely, any harmonic
function can be viewed as the potential function for some fluid flow. The real fluid velocity
is its gradient v = ∇ϕ. The harmonic conjugate ψ(x, y) to the velocity potential also plays
an important role, and, in fluid mechanics, is known as the stream function. It also satisfies
the Laplace equation ∆ψ = 0, and the potential and stream function are related by the
Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.22). Thus, the potential and stream function satisfy
∂ϕ ∂ψ ∂ϕ ∂ψ
=u= , =v=− . (16.47)
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
The level sets of the velocity potential, { ϕ(x, y) = c } where c ∈ R is fixed, are known
as equipotential curves. The velocity vector v = ∇ϕ points in the normal direction to the
equipotentials. On the other hand, as we noted above, v = ∇ϕ is tangent to the level
curves { ψ(x, y) = d } of its harmonic conjugate stream function. But v is the velocity
field, and so tangent to the streamlines followed by the fluid particles. Thus, these two
systems of curves must coincide, and we infer that the level curves of the stream function
are the streamlines of the flow , whence its name! Summarizing, for an ideal fluid flow,
the equipotentials { ϕ = c } and streamlines { ψ = d } form mutually orthogonal systems
of plane curves. The fluid velocity v = ∇ϕ is tangent to the stream lines and normal
12/11/12 880
Figure 16.11. Equipotentials and Streamlines for χ(z) = z.
to the equipotentials, whereas the gradient of the stream function ∇ψ is tangent to the
equipotentials and normal to the streamlines.
The discussion in the preceding paragraph implicitly relied on the fact that the velocity
is nonzero, v = ∇ϕ 6= 0, which means we are not at a stagnation point, where the fluid
is not moving. While streamlines and equipotentials might begin or end at a stagnation
point, there is no guarantee, and, indeed, in general it is not the case that they meet at
mutually orthogonal directions there.
Example 16.16. The simplest example of a complex potential function is
χ(z) = z = x + i y.
Thus, the velocity potential is ϕ(x, y) = x, while its harmonic conjugate stream function
is ψ(x, y) = y. The complex derivative of the potential is the complex velocity,
dχ
f (z) == 1,
dz
which corresponds to the uniform horizontal fluid motion considered first in Example 16.15.
Note that the horizontal stream lines coincide with the level sets { y = d } of the stream
function, whereas the equipotentials { x = c } are the orthogonal system of vertical lines;
see Figure 16.11.
Next, consider the complex potential function
χ(z) = 1
2 z2 = 1
2 (x2 − y 2 ) + i x y.
The associated complex velocity
f (z) = χ′ (z) = z = x + i y
leads to the hyperbolic flow (16.45). The hyperbolic streamlines x y = d are the level
curves of the stream function ψ(x, y) = x y. The equipotential lines 12 (x2 − y 2 ) = c form a
system of orthogonal hyperbolas. Figure 16.12 shows (some of) the equipotentials in the
first plot, the stream lines in the second, and combines them together in the third picture.
Example 16.17. Flow Around a Disk . Consider the complex potential function

1 x y
χ(z) = z + = x + 2 + i y− 2 . (16.48)
z x + y2 x + y2
12/11/12 881
1
Figure 16.12. Equipotentials and Streamlines for χ(z) = 2 z2 .
1
Figure 16.13. Equipotentials and Streamlines for z + .
z
The corresponding complex fluid velocity is

dχ 1 x2 − y 2 2xy
f (z) = = 1− 2 = 1− 2 2 2
+ i 2 . (16.49)
dz z (x + y ) (x + y 2 )2
The equipotential curves and streamlines are plotted in Figure 16.13. The points z = ± 1
are stagnation points of the flow, while z = 0 is a singularity. In particular, fluid particles
that move along the positive x axis approach the leading stagnation point z = 1 as t → ∞.
Note that the streamlines
y
ψ(x, y) = y − 2 =d
x + y2
are asymptotically horizontal at large distances, and hence, far away from the origin, the
flow is indistinguishable from uniform horizontal motion with complex velocity f (z) ≡ 1.
The level curve for the particular value d = 0 consists of the unit circle | z | = 1 and
the real axis y = 0. In particular, the unit circle | z | = 1 consists of semicircular two
stream lines and the two stagnation points. The flow velocity vector field v = ∇ϕ is
everywhere tangent to the unit circle, and hence satisfies the no flux condition along the
boundary
of the
unit disk. Thus, we can interpret (16.49), when restricted to the domain
Ω = | z | > 1 , as the complex velocity of a uniformly moving fluid around the outside of
a solid circular disk of radius 1. In three dimensions, this would correspond to the steady
flow of a fluid around a solid cylinder; see Figure fcyl .
In this section, we have focused on the fluid mechanical roles of a harmonic function
and its conjugate. An analogous interpretation applies when ϕ(x, y) represents an elec-
tromagnetic potential function; the level curves of its harmonic conjugate ψ(x, y) are the
12/11/12 882
f
Ω D
Figure 16.14. Mapping to the Unit Disk.
paths followed by charged particles under the electromotive force field v = ∇ϕ. Similarly,
if ϕ(x, y) represents the equilibrium temperature distribution in a planar domain, its level
lines represent the isotherms or curves of constant temperature, while the level lines of its
harmonic conjugate are the curves of heat flow, whose mutual orthogonality was already
noted in Appendix A. Finally, if ϕ(x, y) represents the height of a deformed membrane,
then its level curves are the contour lines of elevation. The level curves of its harmonic
conjugate are the curves of steepest descent along the membrane, i.e., the routes followed
by, say, water flowing down the membrane.
16.4. Conformal Mapping.

As we now know, complex functions provide an almost inexhaustible supply of har-
monic functions, i.e., solutions to the Laplace equation. Thus, to solve a boundary value
problem for Laplace’s equation we “merely” need to find the complex function whose real
part matches the prescribed boundary conditions. Unfortunately, even for relatively simple
domains, this remains a daunting task.
The one case where we do have an explicit solution is that of a circular disk, where the
Poisson integral formula (15.48) provides a complete solution to the Dirichlet boundary
value problem. (See Exercise for the Neumann problem.) Thus, one evident strategy
for solving the corresponding boundary value problem on a more complicated domain is
to convert it into the solved case by an inspired change of variables.
The intimate connections between complex analysis and solutions to the Laplace equa-
tion inspires us to look at changes of variables defined by complex functions. Thus, we
will now interpret a complex analytic function
ζ = g(z) or ξ + i η = p(x, y) + i q(x, y) (16.50)
as a mapping that takes a point z = x + i y belonging to a prescribed domain Ω ⊂ C to

a point ζ = ξ + i η belonging to the image domain D = g(Ω) ⊂ C, as in Figure 16.14.
In many cases, D is the unit disk, but may be something else in more general examples.
In order unambigouously relate functions on Ω to functions on D, we require that the
analytic mapping (16.50) be one-to-one so that each point ζ ∈ D comes from a unique
point z ∈ Ω. As a result, the inverse function z = g −1 (ζ) is a well-defined map from D
back to Ω, which we assume is also analytic on all of D. The calculus formula for the
12/11/12 883
derivative of the inverse function
d −1 1
g (ζ) = ′ at ζ = g(z), (16.51)
dζ g (z)
which remains valid for complex functions, implies that the derivative of g(z) must be
nonzero everywhere in order that g −1 (ζ) be differentiable. This condition,
g ′ (z) 6= 0 at every point z ∈ Ω, (16.52)
will play a crucial role in the development of the method. Finally, ijn order to match
the boundary conditions, we will assume that the mapping extends continuously to the
boundary ∂Ω and maps it to the boundary ∂D of the image domain.
Before trying to apply this idea to solve boundary value problems for the Laplace
equation, we introduce some of the most important examples of analytic mappings.
Example 16.18. The simplest nontrivial analytic maps are the translations
ζ = z + β = (x + a) + i (y + b), (16.53)
where β = a + i b is a fixed complex number. The effect of (16.53) is to translate the entire
T
complex plane in the direction given by the vector ( a, b ) . In particular, the translation
maps the disk Ω = { | z + c | < 1 } of radius 1 and center at − β to the unit disk D =
{ | ζ | < 1 }.
There are two types of linear analytic transformations. First are the scaling maps
ζ = ρ z = ρ x + i ρ y, (16.54)
where ρ 6= 0 is a fixed nonzero real number. This maps the disk | z | < 1/| ρ | to the unit
disk | ζ | < 1. Second are the rotations
ζ = e i ϕ z = (x cos ϕ − y sin ϕ) + i (x sin ϕ + y cos ϕ) (16.55)
around the origin by a fixed (real) angle ϕ. This maps the unit disk to itself.
Any non-constant affine transformation
ζ = α z + β, α 6= 0, (16.56)
defines an invertible analytic map on all of C, whose inverse z = α−1 (ζ − β) is also affine.
Writing α = ρ e i ϕ in polar coordinates, we see that the affine map (16.56) can be viewed
as the composition of a rotation (16.55), followed by a scaling (16.54), followed by a
translation (16.53). As such, it takes the disk | α z + β | < 1 of radius 1/| α | = 1/| ρ | and
center − β/α to the unit disk | ζ | < 1.
Example 16.19. A more interesting example is the complex function

1 x y
ζ = g(z) = , or ξ= , η=− , (16.57)
z x2 + y2 x2 + y2
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which defines an inversion † of the complex plane. The inversion is a one-to-one analytic
map everywhere except at the origin z = 0; indeed g(z) is its own inverse: g −1 (ζ) = 1/ζ.
Note that g ′ (z) = − 1/z 2 is never zero, and so the derivative condition(16.52) is satisfied
everywhere. Note that | ζ | = 1/| z |, while ph ζ = − ph z. Thus, if Ω = | z | > ρ denotes
the exterior of the circle of radius ρ, then the image points
ζ = 1/z satisfy | ζ | = 1/| z |,
and hence the image domain is the punctured disk D = 0 < | ζ | < 1/ρ . In particular,
the inversion maps the outside of the unit disk to its inside, but with the origin removed,
and vice versa. The reader may enjoy seeing what the inversion does to other domains,
e.g., the unit square 0 < x, y < 1.
Example 16.20. The complex exponential
ζ = g(z) = ez , or ξ = ex cos y, η = ex sin y, (16.58)

satisfies the condition
g ′ (z) = ez 6= 0
everywhere. Nevertheless, it is not one-to-one because ez+2 π i = ez , and so all points
differing by an integer multiple of 2 π i are mapped to the same point.
Under the exponential map, the horizontal line Im z = b is mapped to the curve
ζ = ex+ i b = ex (cos b + i sin b), which, as x varies from −∞ to ∞, traces out the ray
emanating from the origin that makes an angle ph ζ = b with the real axis. Therefore, the
exponential map will map a horizontal strip

Sa,b = a < Im z < b
to a wedge-shaped domain
Ωa,b = a < ph ζ < b ,
and is one-to-one provided | b − a | < 2 π. In particular, the horizontal strip

S− π/2,π/2 = − 12 π < Im z < 12 π
of width π centered around the real axis is mapped, in a one-to-one manner, to the right
half plane
R = Ω− π/2,π/2 = − 21 π < ph ζ < 12 π = Im ζ > 0 ,

while the horizontal strip S− π,π = − π < Im z < π of width 2 π is mapped onto the
domain
Ω∗ = Ω− π,π = − π < ph ζ < π = C \ { Im z = 0, Re z ≤ 0 }
obtained by cutting the complex plane along the negative real axis.
On the other hand, vertical lines Re z = a are mapped to circles | ζ | = ea . Thus,
a vertical strip a < Re z < b is mapped to an annulus ea < | ζ | < eb , albeit many-to-
one, since the strip is effectively wrapped around and around the annulus. The rectangle
†
This is slightly different than the real inversion (15.75); see Exercise .
12/11/12 885
Figure 16.15. The mapping ζ = ez .
Figure 16.16. The Effect of ζ = z 2 on Various Domains.

R = a < x < b, − π < y < π of height 2 π is mapped in a one-to-one fashion on an
annulus that has been cut along the negative real axis. See Figure 16.15.
Example 16.21. The squaring map
ζ = g(z) = z 2 , or ξ = x2 − y 2 , η = 2 x y, (16.59)
is analytic
√ on all of C, but is not one-to-one. Its inverse is the square root function
z = ζ , which, as we noted in Section 16.1, is doubly-valued, except at the origin z =
0. Furthermore, the derivative g ′ (z) = 2 z vanishes at z = 0, violating the invertibility
condition (16.52). However, once we restrict to a simply connected subdomain Ω that
does not contain 0, √ the function g(z) = z 2 does define a one-to-one mapping, whose
−1
inverse z = g (ζ) = ζ is a well-defined, analytic and single-valued branch of the square
root function.
The effect of the squaring map on a point z is to square its modulus, | ζ | = | z |2 , while
doubling its angle, ph ζ = ph z 2 = 2 ph z. Thus, for example, the upper right quadrant

Q = x > 0, y > 0 = 0 < ph z < 12 π
is mapped onto the upper half plane

U = g(Q) = η = Im ζ > 0 = 0 < ph ζ < π .
√
The inverse function maps a point ζ ∈ U back to its unique square root z = ζ that lies
in the quadrant Q. Similarly, a quarter disk

Qρ = 0 < | z | < ρ, 0 < ph z < 21 π
of radius ρ is mapped to a half disk

Uρ2 = g(Ω) = 0 < | ζ | < ρ2 , Im ζ > 0

of radius ρ2 . On the other hand, the unit square S = 0 < x < 1, 0 < y < 1 is mapped
to a curvilinear triangular domain, as indicated in Figure 16.16; the edges of the square
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on the real and imaginary axes map to the two halves of the straight base of the triangle,
while the other two edges become its curved sides.
Example 16.22. A particularly important example is the analytic map
z−1 x2 + y 2 − 1 2y
ζ= = + i , (16.60)
z+1 (x + 1)2 + y 2 (x + 1)2 + y 2
where we derived the formulae for its real and imaginary parts in (16.14). The map is
one-to-one with analytic inverse
1+ζ 1 − ξ 2 − η2 2η
z= = 2 2
+ i , (16.61)
1−ζ (1 − ξ) + η (1 − ξ)2 + η 2
provided z 6= −1 and ζ 6= 1. This particular
analytic
map has the important
property
of mapping the right half plane R = x = Re z > 0 to the unit disk D = | ζ |2 < 1 .
Indeed, by (16.61)
1 − ξ 2 − η2
| ζ |2 = ξ 2 + η 2 < 1 if and only if x= > 0.
(1 − ξ)2 + η 2
Note that the denominator does not vanish on the interior of the disk.
The complex functions (16.56, 57, 60) are particular examples of linear fractional trans-
formations
αz +β
ζ= , (16.62)
γz+δ
which form one of the most important classes of analytic maps. Here α, β, γ, δ are arbitrary
complex constants, subject to the restriction
α δ − β γ 6= 0,
since otherwise (16.62) reduces to a trivial constant (and non-invertible) map. (Why?)
Example 16.23. The linear fractional transformation
z−α
ζ= where | α | < 1, (16.63)
αz −1
maps the unit disk to itself, moving the origin z = 0 to the point ζ = α. To prove this, we
note that
| z − α |2 = (z − α)(z − α) = | z |2 − α z − α z + | α |2 ,
| α z − 1 |2 = (α z − 1)(α z − 1) = | α |2 | z |2 − α z − α z + 1.
Subtracting these two formulae,

| z − α |2 − | α z − 1 |2 = 1 − | α |2 | z |2 − 1 < 0, whenever | z | < 1, | α | < 1.
Thus, | z − α | < | α z − 1 |, which implies that
|z −α|
|ζ | = <1 provided | z | < 1, | α | < 1,
|αz − 1|
12/11/12 887
f
θ
θ
Figure 16.17. A Conformal Map.
and hence ζ lies within the unit disk.

The rotations (16.55) also map the unit disk to itself, while preserving the origin. It
can be proved, [4], that the only invertible analytic mappings that take the unit disk to
itself are obtained by composing such a linear fractional transformation with a rotation.
Proposition 16.24. If ζ = g(z) is a one-to-one analytic map that takes the unit
disk to itself, then
z−α
g(z) = e i ϕ for some | α | < 1, 0 ≤ ϕ < 2 π. (16.64)
αz − 1
Additional specific properties of linear fractional transformations are outlined in the
exercises.
Conformality
A remarkable geometrical characterization of complex analytic functions is that, at
non-critical points, they preserve angles. The mathematical term for this property is
conformal mapping. Conformality makes sense for any inner product space, although in
practice one usually deals with Euclidean space equipped with the standard dot product.
Definition 16.25. A function g: R n → R n is called conformal if it preserves angles.
But what does it mean to “preserve angles”? In the Euclidean norm, the angle between
two vectors is defined by their dot product, as in (3.20). However, most analytic maps are
nonlinear, and so will not map vectors to vectors since they will typically map straight
lines to curves. However, if we interpret “angle” to mean the angle between two curves,
as illustrated in Figure 16.17, then we can make sense of the conformality requirement.
Consequently, in order to realize complex functions as conformal maps, we first need to
understand their effect on curves.
In general, a curve C ∈ C in the complex plane is parametrized by a complex-valued
function
z(t) = x(t) + i y(t), a < t < b, (16.65)
that depends on a real parameter t. Note that there is no essential difference between a
complex plane curve (16.65) and a real plane curve, as in (A.1); we have merely switched
T
from vector notation x(t) = ( x(t), y(t) ) to complex notation z(t) = x(t) + i y(t). All the
usual vectorial curve terminology (closed, simple, piecewise smooth, etc.), as summarized
12/11/12 888

ph z
Figure 16.18. Complex Curve and Tangent.
in Appendix A, is used without any modification here. In particular, the tangent vector

to the curve can be identified as the complex number z(t) = x(t) + i y(t). Smoothness of

the curve is guaranteed by the requirement that z(t) 6= 0.

Example 16.26. (a) The curve
z(t) = e i t = cos t + i sin t, for 0 ≤ t ≤ 2 π,

parametrizes the unit circle | z | = 1 in the complex plane, which is a simple closed
curve. Its complex tangent z(t) = i e i t = i z(t) is obtained by rotating z through

90◦ .
(b) The complex curve
1 + i t 1 − i −t
z(t) = cosh t + i sinh t = e + e , −∞ < t < ∞,
2 2
parametrizes the right hand branch of the hyperbola
Re z 2 = x2 − y 2 = 1.
The complex tangent vector is z(t) = sinh t + i cosh t = i z(t).

In order to better understand curve geometry, it will help to rewrite the tangent z in

polar coordinates. We interpret the curve as the motion of a particle in the complex plane,
so that z(t) is the position of the particle at timept, and the tangent z(t) its instantaneous

velocity. The modulus of the tangent, | z | = x2 + y 2 , indicates the particle’s speed,

while its phase ph z measures the direction of motion, as measured by the angle that the

curve makes with the horizontal; see Figure 16.18.

The (signed) angle† between two curves is defined as the angle between their tangents

at the point of intersection. If the curve C1 makes an angle θ1 = ph z 1 (t1 ) while the curve
†
This means that the angle is defined up to a multiple of 2 π, and so we distinguish between
positive and negative angles between curves. The angle defined by an inner product is necessarily
positive. In fact, signed angles only make sense in two dimensions, since a three-dimensional
rotation of the curves can change positive to negative angles; see Exercise for further details.
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C2 has angle θ2 = ph z 2 (t2 ) at the common point z = z1 (t1 ) = z2 (t2 ), then the angle θ
between C1 and C2 at z is their difference

z2
θ = θ2 − θ1 = ph z 2 − ph z 1 = ph . (16.66)
z1
Now, suppose we are given an analytic map ζ = g(z). A curve C parametrized by z(t)
will be mapped to a new curve Γ = g(C) parametrized by the composition ζ(t) = g(z(t)).
The tangent to the image curve is related to that of the original curve by the chain rule:
dζ dg dz
= , or ζ(t) = g ′ (z(t)) z(t). (16.67)

dt dz dt
Therefore, the effect of the analytic map on the tangent vector z is to multiply it by the

complex

number g ′ (z). If the analytic map satisfies our key assumption g ′ (z) 6= 0, then
ζ 6= 0, and so the image curve is guaranteed to be smooth.
According to equation (16.67),

| ζ | = | g ′ (z) z | = | g ′ (z) | | z |. (16.68)

Thus, the speed of motion along the new curve ζ(t) is multiplied by a factor ρ = | g ′ (z) | > 0.
The magnification factor ρ depends only upon the point z and not how the curve passes
through it. All curves passing through the point z are speeded up (or slowed down if ρ < 1)
by the same factor! Similarly, the angle that the new curve makes with the horizontal is
given by

ph ζ = ph g ′ (z) z = ph g ′ (z) + ph z, (16.69)

since the phase of the product of two complex numbers is the sum of their individual phases,
(3.82). Therefore, the tangent angle of the curve is increased by an amount φ = ph g ′ (z),
which means that the tangent is been rotated through an angle φ. Again, the increase in
tangent angle only depends on the point z, and all curves passing through z are rotated
by the same amount φ. As a result, the angle between any two curves is preserved. More
precisely, if C1 is at angle θ1 and C2 at angle θ2 at a point of intersection, then their images
Γ1 = g(C1 ) and Γ2 = g(C2 ) are at angles ψ1 = θ1 + φ and ψ2 = θ2 + φ. The angle between
the two image curves is the difference
ψ2 − ψ1 = (θ2 + φ) − (θ1 + φ) = θ2 − θ1 ,
which is the same as the angle between the original curves. This establishes the confor-
mality or angle-preservation property of analytic maps.
Theorem 16.27. If ζ = g(z) is an analytic function and g ′ (z) 6= 0, then g defines a

conformal map.
Remark : The converse is also valid: Every planar conformal map comes from a com-
plex analytic function with nonvanishing derivative. A proof is outlined in Exercise .
12/11/12 890
Figure 16.19. Conformality of z 2 .
Figure 16.20. The Joukowski Map.
The conformality of analytic functions is all the more surprising when one revisits
elementary examples. In Example 16.21, we discovered that the function w = z 2 maps
a quarter plane to a half plane, and therefore doubles the angle between the coordinate
axes at the origin! Thus g(z) = z 2 is most definitely not conformal at z = 0. The
explanation is, of course, that z = 0 is a critical point, g ′ (0) = 0, and Theorem 16.27 only
guarantees conformality when the derivative is nonzero. Amazingly, the map preserves
angles everywhere else! Somehow, the angle at the origin is doubled, while angles at all
nearby points are preserved. Figure 16.19 illustrates this remarkable and counter-intuitive
feat. The left hand figure shows the coordinate grid, while on the right are the images of
the horizontal and vertical lines under the map z 2 . Note that, except at the origin, the
image curves continue to meet at 90◦ angles, in accordance with conformality.
Example 16.28. A particularly interesting conformal transformation is given by the

Joukowski map

1 1
ζ= z+ . (16.70)
2 z
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It is used in the study of flows around airplane wings, and named after the pioneering
Russian aero- and hydro-dynamics researcher Nikolai Zhukovskii (Joukowski). Since

dζ 1 1
= 1− 2 =0 if and only if z = ± 1,
dz 2 z
the Joukowski map is conformal except at the critical points z = ± 1, as well as at the
singularity z = 0 where it is not defined.
If z = e i θ lies on the unit circle, then

ζ = 12 e i θ + e− i θ = cos θ,
lies on the real axis, with −1 ≤ ζ ≤ 1. Thus, the Joukowski map squashes the unit circle
down to the real line segment [ −1, 1 ]. The images of points outside the unit circle fill the
rest of the ζ plane, as do the images of the (nonzero) points inside the unit circle. Indeed,
if we solve (16.70) for p
z = ζ ± ζ2 − 1 , (16.71)
we see that every ζ except ± 1 comes from two different points z; for ζ not on the critical
line segment [ − 1, 1 ], one point lies inside and and one lies outside the unit circle, whereas
if −1 < ζ < 1, the points are situated directly above and below it on the circle. Therefore,
(16.70) defines a one-to-one conformal map from the exterior of the unit circle | z | > 1
onto the exterior of the unit line segment C \ [ −1, 1 ].
Under the Joukowski map, the concentric circles | z | = r 6= 1 are mapped to ellipses
with foci at ±1 in the ζ plane; see Figure 16.20. The effect on circles not centered at
the origin is quite interesting. The image curves take on a wide variety of shapes; several
examples are plotted in Figure 16.21. If the circle passes through the singular point z = 1,
then its image is no longer smooth, but has a cusp at ζ = 1; this happens in the last 5
of the figures. Some of the image curves have the shape of the cross-section through an
airplane wing or airfoil. Later we will see how to construct the physical fluid flow around
such an airfoil, which proved to be a critical step in early airplane design.
Composition and The Riemann Mapping Theorem

One of the strengths of the method of conformal mapping is that one can build up lots
of complicated examples by simply composing elementary mappings. The method rests
on the simple fact that the composition of two complex analytic functions is also complex
analytic. This is the complex counterpart of the result, learned in first year calculus, that
the composition of two differentiable functions is itself differentiable.
Proposition 16.29. If w = f (z) is an analytic function of the complex variable
z = x + i y, and ζ = g(w) is an analytic function of the complex variable w = u + i v, then
the composition† ζ = h(z) ≡ g ◦ f (z) = g(f (z)) is an analytic function of z.
†
Of course, to properly define the composition, we need to ensure that the range of the function
w = f (z) is contained in the domain of the function ζ = g(w).
12/11/12 892
Center: .1 Center: .2 + i Center: 1 + i Center: −2
√+ 3 i
Radius: .5 Radius: 1 Radius: 1 Radius: 3 2 ≈ 4.2426
Center: .2 + i Center: .1 + .3 i Center: .1√+ .1 i Center: −.2 + .1 i

Radius: 1.2806 Radius: .9487 Radius: 3 2 ≈ 4.2426 Radius: 1.2042
Figure 16.21. Airfoils Obtained from Circles via the Joukowski Map.
Proof : The proof that the composition of two differentiable functions is differentiable
is identical to the real variable version, [9, 171], and need not be reproduced here. The
derivative of the composition is explicitly given by the usual chain rule:
d dζ dζ dw
g ◦ f (z) = g ′ (f (z)) f ′ (z), or, in Leibnizian notation, = . (16.72)
dz dz dw dz
Further details are left to the reader. Q.E.D.
If both f and g are one-to-one, so is the composition h = g ◦ f . Moreover, the compo-

sition of two conformal maps is also conformal, a fact that is immediate from the definition,
or by using the chain rule (16.72) to show that
h′ (z) = g ′ (f (z)) f ′ (z) 6= 0 provided g ′ (f (z)) 6= 0 and f ′ (z) 6= 0.
Thus, if f and g satisfy the conformality condition (16.52), so does h = g ◦ f . Q.E.D.
Example 16.30. As we learned in Example 16.20, the exponential function
w = ez
maps the horizontal strip S = { − 21 π < Im z < 12 π } conformally onto the right half plane
R = { Re w > 0 }. On the other hand, Example 16.22 tells us that the linear fractional
transformation
w−1
ζ=
w+1
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w−1
z ζ=
w=e w+1
Figure 16.22. Composition of Conformal Maps.
maps the right half plane R conformally to the unit disk D = { | ζ | < 1 }. Therefore, the
composition
ez − 1
ζ= z (16.73)
e +1
is a one-to-one conformal map from the horizontal strip S to the unit disk D, as illustrated
in Figure 16.22.
Recall that our motivating goal is to use analytic functions/conformal maps to solve
boundary value problems for the Laplace equation on a complicated domain Ω by trans-
forming them to boundary value problems on the unit disk. Of course, the key question
the student should be asking at this point is: Is there, in fact, a conformal map ζ = g(z)
from a given domain Ω to the unit disk D = g(Ω)? The theoretical answer is the celebrated
Riemann Mapping Theorem.
Theorem 16.31. If Ω ( C is any simply connected open subset, not equal to the
entire complex plane, then there exists a one-to-one complex analytic map ζ = g(z),
satisfying the conformality condition g ′ (z) 6= 0 for all z ∈ Ω, that maps Ω to the unit disk
D = { | ζ | < 1 }.
Thus, any simply connected domain — with one exception, the entire complex plane —
can be conformally mapped the unit disk. (Exercise provides a reason for this exception.)
Note that Ω need not be bounded for this to hold. Indeed, the conformal map (16.60)
takes the unbounded right half plane R = { Re z > 0 } to the unit disk. The proof of this
important theorem relies some more advanced results in complex analysis, and can be
found, for instance, in [4].
The Riemann Mapping Theorem guarantees the existence of a conformal map from any
simply connected domain to the unit disk, but its proof is not constructive, and so provides
no clue as to how to actually construct the desired mapping. And, in general, this is not
an easy task. In practice, one assembles a repertoire of useful conformal maps that apply
to particular domains of interest. An extensive catalog can be found in [Cmap]. More
complicated maps can then be built up by composition of the basic examples. Ultimately,
though, the determination of a suitable conformal map is more an art than a systematic
science. Numerical methods for constructing conformal maps can be found in [TH].
Let us consider a few additional examples beyond those already encountered:
Example
16.32.
Suppose we are asked
to conformally
map the upper half plane
U = Im z > 0 to the unit disk D = | ζ | < 1 . We already know that the linear
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fractional transformation
w−1
ζ = g(w) =
w+1

maps the right half plane R = Re z > 0 to D = g(R). On the other hand, multiplication
by i = e i π/2 , with z = h(w) = i w, rotates the complex plane by 90◦ and so maps the
right half plane R to the upper half plane U = h(R). Its inverse h−1 (z) = − i z will
therefore map U to R = h−1 (U ). Therefore, to map the upper half plane to the unit disk,
we compose these two maps, leading to the conformal map
−iz − 1 iz +1
ζ = g ◦ h−1 (z) = = (16.74)
−iz + 1 iz −1
from U to D.
In a similar vein, we already know
that the squaring map w = z 2 maps the upper
right quadrant Q = 0 < ph z < 21 π to the upper half plane U . Composing this with
our previously constructed map — which requires using w instead of z in the previous
formula (16.74) — leads to the conformal map
i z2 + 1
ζ= (16.75)
i z2 − 1
that maps the quadrant Q to the unit disk D.
Example 16.33. The goal of this example is to construct an conformal map that
takes a half disk
D+ = | z | < 1, y = Im z > 0 (16.76)

to the full unit disk D = k ζ k < 1 . The answer is not ζ = z 2 because the im-
age
of D+ omits the positive real axis, resulting in a disk with a slit cut out of it:
k ζ k < 1, 0 < ph ζ < 2 π . To obtain the entire disk as the image of the conformal map,
we must think a little harder. The first observation is that the map
z = (w − 1)/(w + 1)
that we analyzed in Example 16.22 takes the right half plane
R = Re w > 0 to the unit
1
disk. Moreover, it maps the upper right quadrant Q = 0 < ph w < 2 π to the half disk
(16.76). Its inverse,
z+1
w= (16.77)
z−1
will therefore map the half disk, z ∈ D+ , to the upper right quadrant w ∈ Q.
On the other hand, we just constructed a conformal map (16.75) that takes the upper
right quadrant Q to the unit disk D. Therefore, if compose the two maps (replacing z by
w in (16.75) and then using (16.77)), we obtain the desired conformal map:
2
z+1
i +1
i w2 + 1 z−1 ( i + 1)(z 2 + 1) + 2( i − 1)z
ζ= = 2 = .
i w2 − 1 z+1 ( i − 1)(z 2 + 1) + 2( i + 1)z
i −1
z−1
12/11/12 895
The formula can be further simplified by multiplying numerator and denominator by i +1,
and so
z2 + 2 i z + 1
ζ = −i 2 .
z − 2iz +1
The leading factor − i is unimportant and can be omitted, since it merely rotates the disk
by − 90◦ , and so
z2 + 2 i z + 1
ζ= 2 (16.78)
z − 2iz + 1
is an equally valid solution to our problem.
Finally, as noted in the preceding example, the conformal map guaranteed by the
Riemann Mapping Theorem is not unique. Since the linear fractional transformations
(16.63) map the unit disk to itself, we can compose them with any conformal Riemann
mapping to produce additional conformal maps from a simply-connected domain to the
unit disk. For example, composing (16.63) with (16.73) produces a family of mappings
1 + ez − α(1 − ez )
ζ= , (16.79)
α (1 + ez ) − 1 + ez

which, for any | α | < 1, maps the strip S = − 21 π < Im z < 21 π onto the unit disk. With
a little more work, it can be shown that this is the only ambiguity, and so, for instance,
(16.79) forms a complete list of one-to-ne conformal maps from S to D.
Annular Domains
The Riemann Mapping Theorem does not apply to non-simply connected domains.
For purely topological reasons, a hole cannot be made to disappear under a one-to-one
continuous mapping — much less a conformal map — and so a non-simply connected
domain cannot be mapped in a on-to-one manner onto the unit disk. So we must look
elsewhere for a simple model domain.
The simplest non-simply connected domain is an annulus consisting of the points
between two concentric circles

Ar,R = r < | ζ | < R , (16.80)
which, for simplicity, is centered around the origin; see Figure 16.23. The case r = 0
corresponds to a punctured disk, while R = ∞ gives the exterior of a disk or radius r. It
can be proved, [Cmap], that any other domain with a single hole can be mapped to an
annulus. The annular radii r, R are not uniquely specified; indeed the linear map ζ = α z
maps the annulus (16.80) to a rescaled annulus Aρ r,ρ R whose inner and outer radii have
both been scaled by the factor ρ = | α |. But the ratio† r/R of the inner to outer radius of
the annulus is uniquely specified; annuli with different ratios cannot be mapped to each
other by a conformal map.
†
If r = 0 or R = ∞, but not both, then r/R = 0 by convention. The punctured plane, where
r = 0 and R = ∞ remains a separate case.
12/11/12 896
Figure 16.23. An Annulus.
Example 16.34. Let c > 0. Consider the domain

Ω = | z | < 1 and | z − c | > c
contained between two nonconcentric circles. To keep the computations simple, we take
the outer circle to have radius 1 (which can always be arranged by scaling, anyway) while
the inner circle has center at the point z = c on the real axis and radius c, which means
that it passes through the origin. We must restrict c < 12 in order that the inner circle not
overlap with the outer circle. Our goal is to conformally map this non-concentric annular
domain to a concentric annulus of the form

Ar,1 = r < | ζ | < 1
by a conformal map ζ = g(z).
Now, according, to Example 16.23, a linear fractional transformation of the form
z−α
ζ = g(z) = with |α| < 1 (16.81)
αz − 1
maps the unit disk to itself. Moreover, as remarked earlier, and demonstrated in Exercise
, linear fractional transformations always map circles to circles. Therefore, we seek a
particular value of α that maps the inner circle | z − c | = c to a circle of the form | ζ | = r
centered at the origin. We choose α real and try to map the points 0 and 2c on the inner
circle to the points r and − r on the circle | ζ | = r. This requires
2c − α
g(0) = α = r, g(2 c) = = − r. (16.82)
2cα − 1
Substituting the first into the second leads to the quadratic equation
c α2 − α + c = 0.
12/11/12 897
Figure 16.24. Conformal Map for Non-concentric Annulus.
There are two real solutions:

√ √
1 − 1 − 4 c2 1+ 1 − 4 c2 (16.83)
α= and α= .
2c 2c
Since 0 < c < 21 , the second solution has α > 1, and hence is inadmissible. Therefore, the
first solution yields the required conformal map
√
z − 1 + 1 − 4 c2
ζ= √ .
(1 − 1 − 4 c2 ) z − 2 c
Note in particular that the radius r = α of the inner circle in Ar,1 is not the same as
the radius c of the inner circle in Ω. For example, taking c = 25 , equation (16.83) implies
2z − 1
α = 21 , and hence the linear fractional transformation ζ = maps the annular domain
z−2
Ω = | z | < 1, z − 52 > 25 to the concentric annulus A = A1/2,1 = 12 < | ζ | < 1 . In
Figure 16.24, we plot the non-concentric circles in Ω that are mapped to concentric circles
in the annulus A.
Applications to Harmonic Functions and Laplace’s Equation

Let us now apply our newly acquired expertise in conformal mapping to the study of
harmonic functions and boundary value problems for the Laplace equation. Our goal was
to change a boundary value problem on a domain Ω into a boundary value problem on
the unit disk D that we know how to solve. To this end, suppose we know a conformal
map ζ = g(z) that takes z ∈ Ω to ζ ∈ D. As we know, the real and imaginary parts of
an analytic function F (ζ) defined on D define harmonic functions. Moreover, according
to Proposition 16.29, the composition f (z) = F (g(z)) defines an analytic function whose
real and imaginary parts are harmonic functions on Ω. Thus, the conformal mapping can
be regarded as a change of variables between their harmonic real and imaginary parts. In
fact, this property does not even require the harmonic function to be the real part of an
analytic function, i.e., we are not required to assume the existence of a harmonic conjugate.
12/11/12 898
Proposition 16.35. If U (ξ, η) is a harmonic function of ξ, η, and
ζ = ξ + i η = p(x, y) + i q(x, y) = g(z) (16.84)

is any analytic function, then the composition
u(x, y) = U (p(x, y), q(x, y)) (16.85)

is a harmonic function of x, y.
Proof : This is a straightforward application of the chain rule:
∂u ∂U ∂ξ ∂U ∂η ∂u ∂U ∂ξ ∂U ∂η
= + , = + ,
∂x ∂ξ ∂x ∂η ∂x ∂y ∂ξ ∂y ∂η ∂y
2 2
∂2u ∂ 2 U ∂ξ ∂ 2 U ∂ξ ∂η ∂ 2 U ∂η ∂U ∂ 2 ξ ∂U ∂ 2η
= + 2 + + + ,
∂x2 ∂ξ 2 ∂x ∂ξ ∂η ∂x ∂x ∂η 2 ∂x ∂ξ ∂x 2 ∂η ∂x2
2 2
∂ 2u ∂ 2 U ∂ξ ∂ 2 U ∂ξ ∂η ∂ 2 U ∂η ∂U ∂ 2 ξ ∂U ∂2η
= + 2 + + + .
∂y 2 ∂ξ 2 ∂y ∂ξ ∂η ∂y ∂y ∂η 2 ∂y ∂ξ ∂y 2 ∂η ∂y 2
Using the Cauchy–Riemann equations
∂ξ ∂η ∂ξ ∂η
=− , = ,
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
for the analytic function ζ = ξ + i η, we find, after some algebra,
" 2 2 # 2
∂ 2u ∂ 2u ∂ξ ∂η ∂ U ∂ 2U
∆u = + 2 = + + = | g ′ (z) |2 ∆U,
∂x2 ∂y ∂x ∂x ∂ξ 2 ∂η 2
2 2
where | g ′ (z) |2 = ( ∂ξ/∂x ) + ( ∂η/∂x ) . We conclude that whenever U (ξ, η) is any har-
monic function, and so solves the Laplace equation ∆U = 0 (in the ξ, η variables), then
u(x, y) is a solution to the Laplace equation ∆u = 0 in the x, y variables, and is thus also
harmonic. Q.E.D.
This observation has profound consequences for boundary value problems arising in
physical applications. Suppose we wish to solve the Dirichlet problem
∆u = 0 in Ω, u=h on ∂Ω, (16.86)

on a simply connected domain† Ω ( C. Let ζ = g(z) = p(x, y) + i q(x, y) be a one-to-one
conformal mapping from the domain Ω to the unit disk D, whose existence is guaranteed
by the Riemann Mapping Theorem 16.31. (Although its explicit construction may be much
more problematic.) Then the change of variables formula (16.85) will map the harmonic
function u(x, y) on Ω to a harmonic function U (ξ, η) on D. Moreover, the boundary values
†
The Riemann Mapping Theorem 16.31 tells us to exclude the case Ω = C. Indeed, this case
is devoid of boundary conditions, and so the problem does not admit a unique solution.
12/11/12 899
of U = H on the unit circle ∂D correspond to those of u = h on ∂Ω by the same change
of variables formula:
h(x, y) = H(p(x, y), q(x, y)), for (x, y) ∈ ∂Ω. (16.87)
We conclude that U (ξ, η) solves the Dirichlet problem
∆U = 0 in D, U =H on ∂D.
But we already know how to solve the Dirichlet problem on the unit disk by the Poisson
integral formula (15.48)! Then the solution to the original boundary
value problem is
given by the composition formula u(x, y) = U p(x, y), q(x, y) . Thus, the solution to
the Dirichlet problem on a unit disk can be used to solve the Dirichlet problem on more
complicated planar domains — provided we know the appropriate conformal map.
Example 16.36. According to Example 16.22, the analytic function
z−1 x2 + y 2 − 1 2y
ξ + iη = ζ = = 2 2
+i (16.88)
z+1 (x + 1) + y (x + 1)2 + y 2

maps the right half plane R = x = Re z > 0 to the unit disk D = | ζ | < 1 . Propo-
sition 16.35 implies that if U (ξ, η) is a harmonic function in the unit disk, then
2
x + y2 − 1 2y
u(x, y) = U , (16.89)
(x + 1)2 + y 2 (x + 1)2 + y 2
is a harmonic function on the right half plane. (This can, of courtse, be checked directly
by a rather unpleasant chain rule computation.)
To solve the Dirichlet boundary value problem
∆u = 0, x > 0, u(0, y) = h(y), (16.90)
on the right half plane, we adopt the change of variables (16.88) and use the Poisson
integral formula to construct the solution to the transformed Dirichlet problem
∆U = 0, ξ 2 + η 2 < 1, U (cos ϕ, sin ϕ) = H(ϕ), (16.91)

on the unit disk. The relevant boundary conditions are found as follows. Using the explicit
form
1+ζ (1 + ζ)(1 − ζ) 1 + ζ − ζ − | ζ |2 1 − ξ 2 − η2 + 2 i η
x+ iy = z = = = =
1−ζ | 1 − ζ |2 | 1 − ζ |2 (ξ − 1)2 + η 2
for the inverse map, we see that the boundary point ζ = ξ + i η = e i ϕ on the unit circle
∂D will correspond to the boundary point
2η 2 i sin ϕ ϕ
iy = 2 2
= 2 = i cot (16.92)
(ξ − 1) + η 2
(cos ϕ − 1) + sin ϕ 2

on the imaginary axis ∂R = Re z = 0 . Thus, the boundary data h(y) on ∂R corresponds
to the boundary data
H(ϕ) = h cot 12 ϕ
12/11/12 900
on the unit circle. The Poisson integral formula (15.48) can then be applied to solve
(16.91), from which we are able to reconstruct the solution (16.89) to the boundary value
problem (16.89) on the half plane.
Let’s look at an explicit example. If the boundary data on the imaginary axis is
provided by the step function

1, y > 0,
u(0, y) = h(y) ≡
0, y < 0,
then the corresponding boundary data on the unit disk is a (periodic) step function

1, 0 < ϕ < π,
H(ϕ) =
0, π < ϕ < 2 π,
that has values + 1 on the upper semicircle, − 1 on the lower semicircle, and jump discon-
tinuities at ζ = ± 1. According to the Poisson formula (15.48), the solution to the latter
boundary value problem is given by
Z π
1 1 − ρ2
U (ξ, η) = dφ
2 π 0 1 + ρ2 − 2 ρ cos(ϕ − φ) ξ = ρ cos ϕ,
where
1 1+ρ ϕ 1+ρ ϕ η = ρ sin ϕ.
= tan−1 cot + tan−1 tan ,
π 1−ρ 2 1−ρ 2
Finally, we use (16.89) to construct the solution on the upper half plane, although we
shall spare the reader the messy details of the final formula. The result is depicted in
Figure zpm1h .
Remark : The solution to the preceding Dirichlet boundary value problem is not, in
fact, unique, owing to the unboundedness of the domain. The solution that we pick out by
using the conformal map to the unit disk is the one that remains bounded at ∞. There are
other solutions, but they are unbounded as | z | → ∞ and would correspond to solutions
on the unit disk that have some form of delta function singularity in their boundary data
at the point − 1; see Exercise .
Example 16.37. A non-coaxial cable. The goal of this example is to determine

the electrostatic potential inside a non-coaxial cylindrical cable with prescribed constant
potential values on the two bounding cylinders, as illustrated in Figure 16.25. Assume
for definiteness that the larger cylinder has radius 1, and centered at the origin, while
the smaller cylinder has radius 52 , and is centered at z = 25 . The resulting electrostatic
potential will be independent of the longitudinal coordinate, and so can be viewed as a
planar potential in the annular domain contained between two circles representing the
cross-sections of our cylinders. The desired potential must satisfy the Dirichlet boundary
value problem

∆u = 0 when | z | < 1 and z − 52 > 25 ,

u = a, when | z | = 1, and u = b when z − 2 = 2 .
5 5
12/11/12 901
Figure 16.25. Non–Coaxial Cable.
According to Example 16.34, the linear fractional transformation

2z − 1
ζ= (16.93)
z−2

will map this non-concentric annular domain to the annulus A1/2,1 = 21 < | ζ | < 1 ,
which is the cross-section of a coaxial cable. The corresponding transformed potential
U (ξ, η) has the constant Dirichlet boundary conditions
U = a, when | ζ | = 12 , and U = b when | ζ | = 1. (16.94)

Clearly the coaxial potential U must be a radially symmetric solution to the Laplace
equation, and hence, according to (15.64), of the form
U (ξ, η) = α log | ζ | + β,
for constants α, β. A short computation shows that the particular potential function
b−a b−a
U (ξ, η) = log | ζ | + b = log(ξ 2 + η 2 ) + b
log 2 2 log 2
satisfies the prescribed boundary conditions (16.94). Therefore, the desired non-coaxial
electrostatic potential

b−a 2z − 1 b−a (2 x − 1)2 + y 2
u(x, y) =
log +b = log +b (16.95)
log 2 z−2 2 log 2 (x − 2)2 + y 2
is obtained by composition with the conformal map (16.93). The particular case a = 0,
b = 1, is plotted in Figure ncoaxep .
Remark : The same harmonic function solves the problem of determining the equi-
librium temperature in an annular plate whose inner boundary is kept at a temperature
u = a while the outer boundary is kept at temperature u = b. One could also interpret
12/11/12 902
Figure 16.26. Cross Section of Cylindrical Object.
this solution as the equilibrium temperature of a three-dimensional cylindrical body con-

tained between two non-coaxial cylinders that are held at fixed temperatures. The body’s
temperature (16.95) will only depend upon the transverse coordinates x, y and not upon
the longitudinal coordinate z.
Applications to Fluid Flow

Conformal mappings are particularly useful in the analysis of planar ideal fluid flow.
Recall that if Θ(ζ) = Φ(ξ, η) + i Ψ(ξ, η) is an analytic function that represents the complex
potential function for a steady state fluid flow in a planar domain ζ ∈ D, then we can
interpret its real part Φ(ξ, η) as the velocity potential, while the imaginary part Ψ(ξ, η) is
the harmonic conjugate stream function. The level curves of Φ are the equipotential lines,
and, except at stagnation points where Θ′ (ζ) = 0, are orthogonal to the level curves of Ψ,
which are the streamlines followed by the individual fluid particles.
Composing the complex potential with a conformal map ζ = g(z) leads to a trans-
formed complex potential Θ(g(z)) = χ(z) = ϕ(x, y)+ i ψ(x, y) on the corresponding domain
z ∈ Ω. A key fact is that the conformal map will take isopotential lines of ϕ to isopo-
tential lines of Φ and streamlines of ψ to streamlines of Ψ. Conformality implies that the
orthogonality relations among isopotentials and streamlines away from stagnation points
is maintained.
Let us concentrate on the case of flow past a solid object. In three dimensions, the
object is assumed to have a uniform shape in the axial direction, and so we can restrict our
attention to a planar fluid flow around a closed, bounded subset D ⊂ R 2 ≃ C representing
the cross-section of our cylindrical object, as in Figure 16.26. The (complex) velocity and
potential are defined on the complementary domain Ω = C \ D occupied by the fluid. The
ideal flow assumptions of incompressibility and irrotationality are reasonably accurate if
the flow is laminar, meaning far away from turbulent. The velocity potential ϕ(x, y) will
satisfy the Laplace equation ∆ϕ = 0 in the exterior domain Ω. For a solid object, we
should impose the homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions
∂ϕ
=0 on the boundary ∂Ω = ∂D, (16.96)
∂n
12/11/12 903
Figure 16.27. Flow Past a Solid Object.
indicating that there no fluid flux into the object. We note that, according to Exercise ,
a conformal map will automatically preserve the Neumann boundary conditions.
In addition, since the flow is taking place on an unbounded domain, we need to
specify the fluid motion at large distances. We shall assume our object is placed in a
uniform horizontal flow, as in Figure 16.27. Thus, far away, the object will not affect the
T
flow, and so the velocity should approximate the uniform velocity field v = ( 1, 0 ) , where,
for simplicity, we choose our physical units so that the asymptotic speed of the fluid is
equal to 1. Equivalently, the velocity potential should satisfy

1
ϕ(x, y) ≈ x, so ∇ϕ ≈ when x2 + y 2 ≫ 0.
0
Remark : An alternative physical interpretation is that the fluid is at rest, while the
object moves through the fluid at unit speed 1 in a horizontal direction. For example, think
of an airplane flying through the air at constant speed. If we adopt a moving coordinate
system by sitting inside the airplane, then the effect is as if the object is sitting still while
the air is moving towards us at unit speed.
Example 16.38. The simplest example is a flat plate moving through the fluid
in a horizontal direction. The plate’s cross-section is a horizontal line segment, and, for
simplicity, we take it to be the segment D = [ −1, 1 ] lying on the real axis. If the plate is
very thin, it will have absolutely no effect on the horizontal flow of the fluid, and, indeed,
the velocity potential is given by
ϕ(x, y) = x, for x + i y ∈ Ω = C \ [ −1, 1 ].

T
Note that ∇ϕ = ( 1, 0 ) , and hence this flow satisfies the Neumann boundary conditions
(16.96) on the horizontal segment D = ∂Ω. The corresponding complex potential is χ(z) =
12/11/12 904
z, with complex velocity f (z) = χ′ (z) = 1.
Example 16.39. Recall that the Joukowski conformal map defined by the analytic
function
1 1
ζ = g(z) = z+ (16.97)
2 z
squashes the unit circle | z | = 1 down to the real line segment [ −1, 1 ] in the ζ plane.
Therefore, it will map the fluid flow outside the unit disk (which is the cross-section of a
circular cylinder) to the fluid flow past the line segment, which, according to the previous
example, has complex potential Θ(ζ) = ζ. As a result, the complex potential for the flow
past a disk is the Joukowski function

1 1
χ(z) = Θ ◦ g(z) = g(z) = z+ . (16.98)
2 z
Except for a factor of 21 , this agrees with the flow potential we derived in Example 16.17.
The difference is that, at large distances, the potential
1
χ(z) ≈ 2 z for
| z | ≫ 1.
T
corresponds to uniform horizontal flow whose velocity 12 , 0 is half as fast. The discrep-
ancy between the two flows can easily be rectified by multiplying (16.98) by 2, whose only
effect is to speed up the flow.
Example 16.40. Let us next consider the case of a tilted plate in a uniformly
horizontal fluid flow. Thus, the cross-section is the line segment
z(t) = t e i θ , −1 ≤ t ≤ 1,
obtained by rotating the horizontal line segment [ −1, 1 ] through an angle θ, as in Fig-
ure tilt . The goal is to construct a fluid flow past the tilted segment that is asymptotically
horizontal at large distance.
The critical observation is that, while the effect of rotating a plate in a fluid flow is
not so evident, rotating a circularly symmetric disk has no effect on in the flow around
it. Thus, the rotation w = e− i θ z maps the Joukowski potential (16.98) to the complex
potential
iθ 1 iθ e− i θ
Υ(w) = χ(e w) = e w+ .
2 w
The streamlines of the induced flow are no longer asymptotically horizontal, but rather at
an angle − θ. If we now apply the original Joukowski map (16.97) to the rotated flow, the
circle is again squashed down to the horizontal line segment, but the flow lines continue
to be at angle − θ at large distances. Thus, if we then rotate the resulting flow through
an angle θ, the net effect will be to tilt the segment to the desired angle θ while rotating
the streamlines to be asymptotically horizontal. Putting the pieces together, we have the
final complex potential in the form
p
χ(z) = e i θ z cos θ − i sin θ z 2 − e−2 i θ . (16.99)
Sample streamlines for the flow at several attack angles are plotted in Figure tilt .
12/11/12 905
Example 16.41. As we discovered in Example 16.28, applying the Joukowski map
to off-center disks will, in favorable configurations, produce airfoil-shaped objects. The
fluid motion around such airfoils can thus be obtained by applying the Joukowski map to
the flow past such an off-center circle.
First, an affine map
w = αz +β
has the effect of moving the unit disk | z | ≤ 1 to the disk | w − β | ≤ | α | with center
β and radius | α |. In particular, the boundary circle will continue to pass through the
point w = 1 provided | α | = | 1 − β |. Moreover, as noted in Example 16.18, the angular
component of α has the effect of a rotation, and so the streamlines around the new disk
will, asymptotically, be at an angle ϕ = ph α with the horizontal. We then apply the
Joukowski transformation

1 1 1 1
ζ= w+ = αz + β + (16.100)
2 w 2 αz +β
to map the disk to the airfoil shape. The resulting complex potential for the flow past the
airfoil is obtained by substituting the inverse map
p
w−β ζ − β + ζ2 − 1
z= = ,
α α
into the original potential (16.98), whereby
p p !
2 α ζ − β − ζ 2−1
1 ζ −β+ ζ −1
Θ(ζ) = + .
2 α β2 + 1 − 2 β ζ
Since the streamlines have been rotated through an angle ϕ = ph α, we then rotate the
final result back by multiplying by e i ϕ in order to see the effect of the airfoil tiled at an
angle − ϕ in a horizontal flow. Sample streamlines are graphed in Figure airfoilnolift .
We can interpret all these examples as planar cross-sections of three-dimensional fluid
flows past an airplane wing oriented in the longitudinal z direction. The wing is assumed to
have a uniform cross-section shape, and the flow not dependent upon the axial z coordinate.
For sufficiently long wings flying in laminar (non-turbulent) flows, this model will be valid
away from the wing tips. Underestanding the dynamics of more complicated airfoils with
varying cross-section and/or faster motion requires a fully three-dimensional fluid model.
For such problems, complex analysis is no longer applicable, and, for the most part, one
must rely on large scale numerical integration. Only in recent years have computers become
sufficiently powerful to compute realistic three-dimensional fluid motions — and then only
in reasonably “mild” scenarios† . The two-dimensional versions that have been analyzed
here still provide important clues to the behavior of a three-dimensional flow, as well as
useful initial approximations to the three-dimensional airplane wing design problem.
†
The definition of mild relies on the magnitude of the Reynolds number, [ 13 ], an overall
measure of the flow’s complexity.
12/11/12 906
Unfortunately, there is a major flaw with the airfoils that we have just designed. As
we will see, potential flows do not produce any lift, and hence such airplanes would not
fly. Fortunately for us, the physical flow is not of this nature! In order to understand how
lift enters into the picture, we need to study complex integration, and so we will return to
this example later. In Example 16.56, we shall construct an alternative flow past an airfoil
that continues to have the correct asymptotic behavior at large distances, while inducing
a nonzero lift on the wing. This is the secret to flight.
Poisson’s Equation and the Green’s Function
Although designed for solving the homogeneous Laplace equation, the method of con-
formal mapping can also be used to solve its inhomogeneous counterpart — the Poisson
equation. As we learned in Chapter 15, to solve an inhomogeneous boundary value problem
it suffices to solve the problem when the right hand side is a delta function concentrated
at a point in the domain:
− ∆u = δζ (x, y) = δ(x − ξ) δ(y − η), ζ = ξ + i η ∈ Ω,
sucject to homogeneous boundary conditions (Dirichlet or mixed) on ∂Ω. (As usual, we

exclude pure Neumann boundary conditions due to lack of existence/uniqueness.) The
solution
u(x, y) = Gζ (x, y) = G(x, y; ξ, η)
is the Green’s function for the given boundary value problem. With the Green’s function
in hand, the solution to the homogeneous boundary value problem under a general external
forcing,
− ∆u = f (x, y),
is then provided by the superposition principle
ZZ
u(x, y) = G(x, y; ξ, η) f (ξ, η) dξ dη. (16.101)
Ω
For the planar Poisson equation, the starting point is the logarithmic potential func-
tion
1 1 1
u(x, y) = Re log z = log | z | = log(x2 + y 2 ), (16.102)
2π 2π 4π
which solves the Dirichlet problem
− ∆u = δ0 (x, y), (x, y) ∈ D, u=0 on ∂D,

on the unit disk D for an impulse concentrated at the origin; see Section 15.3 for details.
How do we obtain the corresponding solution when the unit impulse is concentrated at
another point ζ = ξ + i η ∈ D instead of the origin? According to Example 16.23, the
linear fractional transformation
z−ζ
w = g(z) = , where | ζ | < 1, (16.103)
ζz−1
12/11/12 907
maps the unit disk to itself, moving the point z = ζ to the origin w = g(ζ) = 0. The
1
logarithmic potential U = log | w | will thus be mapped to the Green’s function
2π

1 z−ζ

G(x, y; ξ, η) = log (16.104)
2π ζz−1
at the point ζ = ξ + i η. Indeed, by the properties of conformal mapping, since U is

harmonic except at the singularity w = 0, the function (16.104) will also be harmonic
except at the image point z = ζ. The fact that the mapping does not affect the delta
function singularity is not hard to check; the details are relegated to Exercise . Moreover,
since the conformal map does not alter the boundary | z | = 1, the function (16.104)
continues to satisfy the homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions.
Formula (16.104) reproduces the Poisson formula (15.78) for the Green’s function
that we previously derived by the method of images. This identification can be verified
by substituting z = r e i θ , ζ = ρ e i ϕ , or, more simply, by noting that the numerator in
the logarithmic fraction gives the potential due to a unit impulse at z = ζ, while the
denominator represents the image potential at z = 1/ ζ required to cancel out the effect of
the interior potential on the boundary of the unit disk.
Now that we know the Green’s function on the unit disk, we can use the methods
of conformal mapping to produce the Green’s function for any other simply connected
domain Ω ( C.
Proposition 16.42. Let w = g(z) denote the conformal map that takes the domain
z ∈ Ω to the unit disk w ∈ D, guaranteed by the Riemann Mapping Theorem 16.31. Then
the Green’s function associated with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions on Ω is
explicitly given by
1 g(z) − g(ζ)

G(z; ζ) = log . (16.105)
2π g(ζ) g(z) − 1
Example 16.43. According to Example 16.22, the analytic function
z−1
w=
z+1
maps the right half plane x = Re z > 0 to the unit disk | ζ | < 1. Therefore, by (16.105),
the Green’s function for the right half plane has the form

z−1 ζ −1
−
1 1 (ζ + 1)(z − ζ)
z+1 ζ +1 .
G(z; ζ) = log = log (16.106)
2π z−1 ζ −1 2π (z + 1)(z − ζ)
− 1
z+1
ζ +1
One can then write the solution to the Poisson equation in a superposition as in (16.101).
12/11/12 908
16.5. Complex Integration.
The magic and power of calculus ultimately rests on the amazing fact that differen-
tiation and integration are mutually inverse operations. And, just as complex functions
have many remarkable differentiability properties not enjoyed by their real siblings, so the
sublime beauty and innate structure complex integration goes far beyond its more mun-
dane real counterpart. In the remaining two sections of this chapter, we shall develop the
basics of complex integration theory and present a few of its important applications.
The first step is to motivate the definition of a complex integral. As you know, the
Z b
(definite) integral of a real function, f (t) dt, is evaluated on an interval [ a, b ] ⊂ R.
a
In complex function theory, integrals are taken along curves in the complex plane, and
thus have the flavor of the line integrals appearing in real vector calculus. Indeed, the
T
identification of a complex number z = x + i y with a planar vector x = ( x, y ) will serve
to connect the two theories.
Consider a curve C in the complex plane, parametrized, as in (16.65), by z(t) =
x(t) + i y(t) for a ≤ t ≤ b. We define the integral of the complex function f (z) along the
curve C to be the complex number
Z Z b
dz
f (z) dz = f (z(t)) dt. (16.107)
C a dt
We shall always assume that the integrand f (z) is a well-defined complex function at each
point on the curve. Let us write out the integrand
f (z) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y)
in terms of its real and imaginary parts. Also,

dz dx dy
dz = dt = +i dt = dx + i dy.
dt dt dt
As a result, the complex integral (16.107) splits up into a pair of real line integrals:
Z Z Z Z
f (z) dz = (u + i v)(dx + i dy) = (u dx − v dy) + i (v dx + u dy). (16.108)
C C C C
Example 16.44. Let us compute complex integrals

Z
z n dz, (16.109)
C
of the monomial function f (z) = z n , where n is an integer, along several different curves.
We begin with a straight line segment along the real axis connecting the points −1 to 1,
which we parametrize by z(t) = t for −1 ≤ t ≤ 1. The defining formula (16.107) implies
that the complex integral (16.109) reduces to a real integral:

Z Z 1  0, n = 2 k + 1 > 0 is odd ,
z n dz = tn dt = 2
C −1  , n = 2 k ≥ 0 is even.
n+1
12/11/12 909
3
S+
1
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3
C
−1 1
-1
-2 P
-3
Figure 16.28. Curves for Complex Integration.
If n ≤ −1 is negative, then the singularity of the integrand at at the origin implies that
the integral diverges, and so the complex integral is not defined.
Let us evaluate the same complex integral, but now along a parabolic arc P parame-
trized by
z(t) = t + i (t2 − 1), −1 ≤ t ≤ 1.
Note that, as graphed in Figure 16.28, the parabola connects the same two points. We
again refer back to the basic definition (16.107) to evaluate the integral, so
Z Z 1
n
n
z dz = t + i (t2 − 1) (1 + 2 i t) dt.
P −1
We could, at this point, expand the resulting complex polynomial integrand, and then
integrate term by term. A more elegant approach is to recognize that the integrand is an
exact derivative; namely, by the chain rule
n+1
d t + i (t2 − 1) n
= t + i (t2 − 1) (1 + 2 i t),
dt n+1
as long as n 6= −1. Therefore, we can use the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (which
works equally well for real integrals of complex-valued functions), to evaluate

Z 2
n+1 1  0, −1 6= n = 2 k + 1 odd,
t + i (t − 1)
z n dz = = 2
P n+1  , n = 2 k even.
t = −1 n+1
12/11/12 910
Thus, when n ≥ 0 is a positive integer, we obtain the same result as before. Interestingly,
in this case the complex integral is well-defined even when n is a negative integer because,
unlike the real line segment, the parabolic path does not go through the singularity of z n
at z = 0. The case n = −1 needs to be done slightly differently, and integration of 1/z
along the parabolic path is left as an exercise for the reader — one that requires some
care. We recommend trying the exercise now, and then verifying your answer once we
have become a little more familiar with basic complex integration techniques.
Finally, let us try integrating around a semi-circular arc, again with the same endpoints
−1 and 1. If we parametrize the semi-circle S + by z(t) = e i t , 0 ≤ t ≤ π, we find
Z Z π Z π Z π
n n dz i nt it
z dz = z dt = e i e dt = i e i (n+1)t dt
S + 0 dt 0
0
π  0, −1 6= n = 2 k + 1 odd,
e i (n+1)t 1 − e i (n+1)π
= = = 2
n + 1 t = 0 n+1  − , n = 2 k even.
n+1
This value is the negative of the previous cases — but this can be explained by the fact
that the circular arc is oriented to go from 1 to −1 whereas the line segment and parabola
both go from −1 to 1. Just as with line integrals, the direction of the curve determines the
sign of the complex integral; if we reverse direction, replacing t by − t, we end up with the
same value as the preceding two complex integrals. Moreover — again provided n 6= −1
— it does not matter whether we use the upper semicircle or lower semicircle to go from
−1 to 1 — the result is exactly the same. However, the case n = −1 is an exception to
this “rule”. Integrating along the upper semicircle S + from 1 to −1 yields
Z Z π
dz
= i dt = π i , (16.110)
S+ z 0
whereas integrating along the lower semicircle S − from 1 to −1 yields the negative
Z Z −π
dz
= i dt = − π i . (16.111)
S− z 0
Hence, when integrating the function 1/z, it makes a difference which direction we go
around the origin.
Integrating z n for any integer n 6= −1 around an entire circle gives zero — irrespective
of the radius. This can be seen as follows. We parametrize a circle of radius r by z(t) = re i t
for 0 ≤ t ≤ 2 π. Then, by the same computation,
I Z 2π Z 2π 2 π
n n i nt it n+1 i (n+1)t r n+1 i (n+1)t
z dz = (r e )(r i e ) dt = ir e dt = e = 0,
C 0 0 n+1 t=0
(16.112)
provided n 6= −1. Here, as in Appendix A, the circle on the integral sign serves to remind
us that we are integrating around a closed curve. The case n = −1 remains special.
Integrating once around the circle in the counter-clockwise direction yields a nonzero result
I Z 2π
dz
= i dt = 2 π i . (16.113)
C z 0
12/11/12 911
Let us note that a complex integral does not depend on the particular parametrization
of the curve C. It does, however, depend upon the orientation of the curve: if we traverse
the curve in the reverse direction, then the complex integral changes its sign:
Z Z
f (z) dz = − f (z) dz. (16.114)
−C C
Moreover, if we chop up the curve into two non-overlapping pieces, C = C1 ∪ C2 , with a

common orientation, then the complex integral can be decomposed into a sum over the
pieces: Z Z Z
f (z) = f (z) dz + f (z) dz. (16.115)
C1 ∪ C2 C1 C2
For instance, the integral (16.113) of 1/z around the circle is the difference of the individual
semicircular integrals (16.110–111); the lower semicircular integral acquires a negative sign
to flip its orientation so as to agree with that of the entire circle. All these facts are
immediate consequences of the basic properties of line integrals, or can be easily proved
directly from the defining formula (16.107).
Note: In complex integration theory, a simple closed curve is often referred to as a

contour , and so complex integration is sometimes referred to as contour integration. Unless
explicitly stated, we always go around contours in the counter-clockwise direction.
Further experiments lead us to suspect that complex integrals are usually path-
independent, and hence evaluate to zero around closed contours. One must be careful,
though, as the integral (16.113) makes clear. Path independence, in fact, follows from the
complex version of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
Theorem 16.45. Let f (z) = F ′ (z) be the derivative of a single-valued complex

function F (z) defined on a domain Ω ⊂ C. Let C ⊂ Ω be any curve with initial point α
and final point β. Then
Z Z
f (z) dz = F ′ (z) dz = F (β) − F (α). (16.116)
C C
Proof : This follows immediately from the definition (16.107) and the chain rule:
Z Z b Z b
′ ′ dz d
F (z) dz = F (z(t)) dt = F (z(t)) dt = F (z(b)) − F (z(a)) = F (β) − F (α),
C a dt a dt
where α = z(a) and β = z(b) are the endpoints of the curve. Q.E.D.
For example, when n = 6 −1, the function f (z) = z n is the derivative of the single-
1
valued function F (z) = z n+1 . Hence
n+1
Z
β n+1 αn+1
z n dz = −
C n+1 n+1
12/11/12 912
whenever C is a curve connecting α to β. When n < 0, the curve is not allowed to pass
through the origin, z = 0, as it is a singularity for z n .
In contrast, the function f (z) = 1/z is the derivative of the complex logarithm
log z = log | z | + i ph z,
which is not single-valued on all of C \ {0}, and so Theorem 16.45 cannot be applied
directly. However, if our curve is contained within a simply connected subdomain that
does not include the origin, 0 6∈ Ω ⊂ C, then we can use any single-valued branch of the
complex logarithm to evaluate the integral
Z
dz
= log β − log α,
C z
where α, β are the endpoints of the curve. Since the common multiples of 2 π i cancel, the
answer does not depend upon which particular branch of the complex logarithm is chosen
as long as we are consistent in our choice. For example, on the upper semicircle S + of
radius 1 going from 1 to −1,
Z
dz
= log(−1) − log 1 = π i ,
S+ z
where we use the branch of log z = log | z | + i ph z with 0 ≤ ph z ≤ π. On the other hand,
if we integrate on the lower semi-circle S − going from 1 to −1, we need to adopt a different
branch, say that with − π ≤ ph z ≤ 0. With this choice, the integral becomes
Z
dz
= log(−1) − log 1 = − π i ,
S− z
thus reproducing (16.110, 111). Pay particular attention to the different values of log(−1)
in the two cases!
The most important consequence of Theorem 16.45 is that, as long as the integrand
f (z) has a single-valued anti-derivative, its complex integral is independent of the path
connecting two points — the value only depends on the endpoints of the curve and not
how one gets from point α to point β.
Theorem 16.46. Let f (z) = F ′ (z), where F (z) is a single-valued complex function
for z ∈ Ω. If C ⊂ Ω is any closed curve, then
I
f (z) dz = 0. (16.117)
C
Conversely, if (16.117) holds for all closed curves C ⊂ Ω contained in the domain of
definition of f (z), then f admits a single-valued complex anti-derivative with F ′ (z) = f (z).
Proof : We have already demonstrated the first statement. As for the second, we
define Z z
F (z) = f (z) dz,
z0
12/11/12 913
Figure 16.29. Orientation of Domain Boundary.
where z0 ∈ Ω is any fixed point, and we choose any convenient curve C ⊂ Ω connecting†
z0 to z. (16.117) assures us that the value does not depend on the chosen path. The proof
that this formula does define an anti-derivative of f is left as an exercise, which can be
solved in the same fashion as the case of a real line integral, cf. (22.42). Q.E.D.
The preceding considerations suggest the following fundamental theorem, due in its
general form to Cauchy. Before stating it, we introduce the convention that a complex
function f (z) is to be called analytic on a domain Ω ⊂ C provided it is analytic at every
point inside Ω and, in addition, remains (at least) continuous on the boundary ∂Ω. When
Ω is bounded, its boundary ∂Ω consists of one or more simple closed curves. In general,
as in Green’s Theorem A.26, we orient ∂Ω so that the domain is always on our left hand
side. This means that the outermost boundary curve is traversed in the counter-clockwise
direction, but any interior holes are take on a clockwise orientation. Our convention is
depicted in Figure 16.29.
Theorem 16.47. If f (z) is analytic on a bounded domain Ω ⊂ C, then

I
f (z) dz = 0. (16.118)
∂Ω
Proof : If we apply Green’s Theorem to the two real line integrals in (16.108), we find
I ZZ I ZZ
∂v ∂u ∂u ∂v
u dx − v dy = − − = 0, v dx + u dy = − = 0,
∂Ω Ω ∂x ∂y ∂Ω Ω ∂x ∂y
both of which vanish by virtue of the Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.22). Q.E.D.
If the domain of definition of our complex function f (z) is simply connected, then, by
definition, the interior of any closed curve C ⊂ Ω is contained in Ω, and hence Cauchy’s
Theorem 16.47 implies path independence of the complex integral within Ω.
†
This assumes Ω is a connected domain; otherwise, apply the result to its individual connected
components.
12/11/12 914
C
S C
Ω
S
K
Figure 16.30. Integration Around Two Closed Curves.
Corollary 16.48.
Z If f (z) is analytic on a simply connected domain Ω ⊂ C, then its
complex integral f (z) dz for C ⊂ Ω is independent of path. In particular,
C
I
f (z) dz = 0 (16.119)
C
for any closed curve C ⊂ Ω.
Remark : Simple connectivity of the domain is an essential hypothesis — our evalua-
tion (16.113) of the integral of 1/z around thye unit circle provides a simple counterexample
to (16.119) in the non-simply connected domain Ω = C \ {0}. Interestingly, this result also
admits a converse: a continuous function f (z) that satisfies (16.119) for all closed curves
is necessarily analytic; see [4] for a proof.
We will also require a slight generalization of this result.
Proposition 16.49. If f (z) is analytic in a domain that contains two simple closed
curves S and C, and the entire region lying between them, then, assuming they are oriented
in the same direction, I I
f (z) dz = f (z) dz. (16.120)
C S
Proof : If C and S do not cross each other, we let Ω denote the domain contained
between them, so that ∂ΩI = C ∪ S; see the first plot in Figure 16.30. According to
Cauchy’s Theorem 16.47, f (z) = 0. Now, our orientation convention for ∂Ω means
∂Ω
that the outer curve, say C, is traversed in the counter-clockwise direction, while the inner
curve S has the opposite, clockwise orientation. Therefore, if we assign both curves the
same counter-clockwise orientation,
I I I
0= f (z) = f (z) dz − f (z) dz,
∂Ω C S
12/11/12 915
proving (16.120).
If the two curves cross, we can construct a nearby curve K ⊂ Ω that neither crosses,
as in the second sketch in Figure 16.30. By the preceding paragraph, each integral is equal
to to that over the third curve,
I I I
f (z) dz = f (z) dz = f (z) dz,
C K S
and formula (16.120) remains valid. Q.E.D.

Example 16.50. Consider the function f (z) = z n where n is an integer† . In
(16.112), we already computed
I
n 0, n 6= −1,
z dz = (16.121)
C 2π i , n = −1,
when C is a circle centered at z = 0. When n ≥ 0, Theorem 16.45 immediately implies
that the integral of z n is 0 over any closed curve in the plane. The same applies in the
cases n ≤ −2 provided the curve does not pass through the singular point z = 0. In
particular, the integral is zero around closed curves encircling the origin, even though z n
for n ≤ −2 has a singularity inside the curve and so Cauchy’s Theorem 16.47 does not
apply as stated.
The case n = −1 has particular significance. Here, Proposition 16.49 implies that
the integral is the same as the integral around a circle — provided the curve C also goes
once around the origin in a counter-clockwise direction. Thus (16.113) holds for any closed
curve that goes counter-clockwise once around the origin. More generally, if the curve goes
several times around the origin‡ , then
I
dz
= 2kπ i (16.122)
C z
is an integer multiple of 2 π i . The integer k is called the winding number of the curve C,
and measures the total number of times C goes around the origin. For instance, if C winds
three times around 0 in a counter-clockwise fashion, then k = 3, while k = − 5 indicates
that the curve winds 5 times around 0 in a clockwise direction, as in Figure 16.31. In
particular, a winding number k = 0 indicates that C is not wrapped around the origin. If
C represents a loop of string wrapped around a pole (the pole of 1/z at 0) then a winding
number k = 0 would indicate that the string can be disentangled from the pole without
cutting; nonzero winding numbers would indicate that the string is truly entangled§ .
†
When n is fractional or irrational, the integrals are not well-defined owing to the branch
point at the origin.
‡
Such a curve is undoubtedly not simple and must necessarily cross over itself.
§
Actually, there are more subtle three-dimensional considerations that come into play, and
even strings with zero winding number cannot be removed from the pole without cutting if they
are linked in some nontrivial manner, cf. [ 115 ]. Can you think of an example?
12/11/12 916
k=0 k=3 k = −5
Figure 16.31. Winding Numbers.
Lemma 16.51. If C is any simple closed curve, and a is any point not lying on C,
then I
dz 2π i , a inside C
= (16.123)
C z−a 0 a outside C.
If a ∈ C, then the integral does not converge.
Proof : Note that the integrand f (z) = 1/(z − a) is analytic everywhere except at
z = a, where it has a simple pole. If a is outside C, then Cauchy’s Theorem 16.47 applies,
and the integral is zero. On the other hand, if a is inside C, then Proposition 16.49
implies that the integral is equal to the integral around a circle centered at z = a. The
latter integral can be computed directly by using the parametrization z(t) = a + r e i t for
0 ≤ t ≤ 2 π, as in (16.113). Q.E.D.
Example 16.52. Let D ⊂ C be a closed and connected domain. Let a, b ∈ D be
two points in D. Then
I I I
1 1 dz dz
− dz = − =0
C z−a z−b C z−a C z−b
for any closed curve C ⊂ Ω = C \ D lying outside the domain D. This is because, by
connectivity of D, either C contains both points in its interior, in which case both integrals
equal 2 π i , or C contains neither point, in which case both integrals are 0. According to
Theorem 16.46, the integrand admits a single-valued anti-derivative on the domain Ω, even
though each individual term is the derivative of a multiply-valued complex logarithm. The
conclusion is that, while the individual logarithms are multiply-valued, their difference
F (z) = log(z − a) − log(z − b) (16.124)

is a consistent, single-valued complex function on all of Ω = C \ D. The difference (16.124),
in fact, an infinite number of possible values, differing by integer multiples of 2 π i ; the
ambiguity can be removed by choosing one of its value at a single point in Ω. These
conclusions rest on the fact that D is connected, and are not valid, say, for the twice-
punctured plane C \ { a, b }.
We are sometimes interested in estimating the size of a complex integral. The basic
inequality bounds it in terms of an arc length integral.
12/11/12 917
Proposition 16.53. The modulus of the integral of the complex function f along a
curve C is bounded by the integral of its modulus with respect to arc length:
Z Z

f (z) dz ≤ | f (z) | ds. (16.125)

C C
Proof : We begin with a simple lemma on real integrals of complex functions.

Lemma 16.54. Let f (t) be a complex-valued function depending on the real variable
a ≤ t ≤ b. Then Z
b Z b

f (t) dt ≤ | f (t) | dt. (16.126)
a a
Z b Z b
Proof : If f (t) dt = 0, the inequality is trivial. Otherwise, let θ = ph f (t) dt.
a a
Then, using Exercise 3.6.9,
Z " Z b # Z Z b
b b −i θ
−i θ
f (t) dt = Re e f (t) dt = Re e f (t) dt ≤ | f (t) | dt,
a a a a
which proves the lemma. Q.E.D.

To prove the proposition, we write out the complex integral, and use (16.126) as
follows:
Z Z b
Z b Z
dz dz

f (z) dz = f (z(t)) dt ≤
| f (z(t)) | dt = | f (z) | ds,
a dt dt
C a C
p
since | dz | = | z | dt = x2 + y 2 dt = ds is the arc length integral element (A.30). Q.E.D.

Corollary 16.55. If the curve C has length L = L(C), and f (z) is an analytic
function such that | f (z) | ≤ M for all points z ∈ C, then
Z

f (z) dz ≤ M L. (16.127)

C
Lift and Circulation

In fluid mechanical applications, the complex integral can be assigned an important
physical interpretation. As above, we consider the steady state flow of an incompressible,
irrotational fluid. Let f (z) = u(x, y) − i v(x, y) denote the complex velocity corresponding
T
to the real velocity vector v = ( u(x, y), v(x, y) ) at the point (x, y).
As we noted in (16.108), the integral of the complex velocity f (z) along a curve C
can be written as a pair of real line integrals. In the present situation,
Z Z Z Z
f (z) dz = (u − i v)(dx + i dy) = (u dx + v dy) − i (v dx − u dy). (16.128)
C C C C
12/11/12 918
According to (A.37, 42), the real part is the circulation integral
Z Z
v · dx = u dx + v dy, (16.129)
C C
while the imaginary part is minus the flux integral
Z Z Z
v · n ds = v ∧ dx = v dx − u dy, (16.130)
C C C
along the curve C under the associated steady state fluid flow.
If the complex velocity admits a single-valued complex potential
χ(z) = ϕ(z) − i ψ(z), where χ′ (z) = f (z)
— which is always the case if its domain of definition is simply connected — then the
complex integral is independent of path, and one can use the Fundamental Theorem 16.45
to evaluate it: Z
f (z) dz = χ(β) − χ(α) (16.131)
C
for any curve C connecting α to β. Path independence of the complex integral reconfirms
the path independence of the flux and circulation integrals for irrotational, incompressible
fluid dynamics. The real part of formula (16.131) evaluates the circulation integral
Z Z
v · dx = ∇ϕ · dx = ϕ(β) − ϕ(α), (16.132)
C C
as the difference in the values of the (real) potential at the endpoints α, β of the curve C.
On the other hand, the imaginary part of formula (16.131) computes the flux integral
Z Z
v ∧ dx = ∇ψ · dx = ψ(β) − ψ(α), (16.133)
C C
as the difference in the values of the stream function at the endpoints of the curve. Thus,
the stream function acts as a “flux potential” for the flow. Thus, for ideal fluid flows, flux
is independent of path, and depends only upon the endpoints of the curve. In particular,
if C is a closed contour, I I
v · dx = 0 = v ∧ dx, (16.134)
C C
and so there is no net circulation or flux along any closed curve in this situation.
In aerodynamics, lift is the result of the circulation of the fluid (air) around the body,
[13, 170]. More precisely, let D ⊂ C be a closed, bounded subset representing the cross-
section of a cylindrical body, e.g., an airplane wing. The velocity vector field v of a steady
state flow around the exterior of the body is defined on the domain Ω = C \ D. According
to Blasius’ Theorem,I the body will experience a net lift if and only if it has nonvanishing
circulation integral v · dx 6= 0, where C is any simple closed contour encircling the
C
body. However, if the complex velocity admits a single-valued complex potential in Ω,
then (16.134) tells us that the circulation is automatically zero, and so the body cannot
experience any lift!
12/11/12 919
Example 16.56. Let us investigate the role of lift in flow around an airfoil. Consider
first the flow around a disk, as discussed in Examples 16.17 and 16.39. The Joukowski
potential χ(z) = z + z −1 is a single-valued analytic function everywhere except at the
origin z = 0. Therefore, the circulation integral (16.132) around any contour encircling
the disk will vanish, and hence the disk experiences no net lift. This is more or less evident
from the Figure 16.13 graphing the streamlines of the flow; they are symmetric above and
below the disk, and hence there cannot be any net force in the vertical direction.
Any conformal map will maintain single-valuedness of the complex potentials, and
hence preserve the zero-circulation property. In particular, all the flows past airfoils con-
structed in Example 16.41 also admit single-valued potentials, and so also have zero cir-
culation integral. Such an airplane will not fly, because its wings experience no lift! Of
course, physical airplanes do fly, and so there must be some physical assumption we are
neglecting in our treatment of flow past a body. Abandoning incompressibility or irrota-
tionality would draw us outside the manicured gardens of complex variable theory, and into
the jungles of fully nonlinear partial differential equations of fluid mechanics. Moreover,
although air is slightly compressible, water is, for all practical purposes, incompressible,
and hydrofoils do experience lift when traveling through water.
The only way to introduce lift into the picture is through a (single-valued) complex
velocity with a non-zero circulation integral, and this requires that its complex potential be
multiply-valued. The one function that we know that has such a property is the complex
logarithm
1
λ(z) = log(a z + b), whose derivative λ′ (z) =
az +b
is single-valued away from the singularity at z = − b/a. Thus, we are naturally led to
introduce the family of complex potentials†

1 1
χk (z) = z+ − i k log z. (16.135)
2 z
According to Exercise , the coefficient k must be real in order to maintain the no flux
boundary conditions on the unit circle. By (16.128), the circulation is equal to the real
part of the integral of the complex velocity
dχk 1 1 ik
fk (z) = = − 2− . (16.136)
dz 2 2z z
By Cauchy’s Theorem 16.47 coupled with formula (16.123), if C is a curve going once
around the disk in a counter-clockwise direction, then
I I
1 1 ik
fk (z) dz = − − dz = 2 π k.
C C 2 2 z2 z
†
We center the logarithmic singularity at the origin in order to maintain the no flux boundary
conditions on the unit circle. Moreover, Example 16.52 tells us that more than one logarithm in
the potential is redundant, since the difference of any two logarithms is effectively a single-valued
function, and hence contributes nothing to the circulation integral.
12/11/12 920
Therefore, when Rek 6= 0, the circulation integral is non-zero, and the cylinder experiences
a net lift. In Figure liftc , the streamlines for the flow corresponding to a few representative
values of k are plotted. Note the asymmetry of the streamlines that accounts for the lift
experienced by the disk.
When we compose the modified lift potentials (16.135) with the Joukowski transfor-
mation (16.100), we obtain a complex potential

1 1 1 1
Θk (ζ) = χk (z) when ζ= w+ = az +β +
2 w 2 az +β
for flow around the corresponding airfoil — the image of the unit disk. The conformal
mapping does not affect the value of the complex integrals, and hence, for any k 6= 0, there
is a nonzero circulation around the airfoil under the modified fluid flow. This circulation
is the cause of a net lift on the airfoil, and at last our airplane will fly!
However, there is now a slight embarrassment of riches, since we have designed flows
around the airfoil with an arbitrary value 2 π k for the circulation integral, and hence
having an arbitrary amount of lift! Which of these possible flows most closely realizes the
true physical version with the correct amount of lift? In his 1902 thesis, Martin Kutta
hypothesized that Nature chooses the constant k so as to keep the velocity of the flow at
the trailing edge of the airfoil, ζ = 1, to be finite. With some additional analysis, it turns
out that this condition serves to uniquely specify k, and yields a reasonably good physical
approximation to the actual lift experienced by such an airfoil in flight, provided the tilt
or attack angle of the airfoil in the flow is not too large. Further details, can be found in
several references, including [13, 126, 116, 170].
16.6. Cauchy’s Integral Formulae and the Calculus of Residues.

Cauchy’s Integral Theorem 16.47 and its consequences underlie almost all applications
of complex integration. The fact that we can move the contours of complex integrals
around freely — as long as we do not cross over singularities of the integrand — grants
us great flexibility in their evaluation. A key consequence of Cauchy’s Theorem is that
the value of a complex integral around a closed contour depends only upon the nature of
the singularities of the integrand that happen to lie inside the contour. This observation
inspires us to develop a direct method, known as the “calculus of residues”, for evaluating
such integrals. The residue method effectively bypasses the Fundamental Theorem of
Calculus — no antiderivatives are required! Remarkably, the method of residues can even
be applied to evaluate certain types of real definite integrals, as the final examples in this
section shall demonstrate.
Cauchy’s Integral Formula
The first important consequence of Cauchy’s Theorem is the justly famous Cauchy
integral formulae. It enables us to compute the value of an analytic function at a point by
evaluating a contour integral around a closed curve encircling the point.
12/11/12 921
Theorem 16.57. Let Ω ⊂ C be a bounded domain with boundary ∂Ω, and let
a ∈ Ω. If f (z) is analytic on Ω, then
I
1 f (z)
f (a) = dz. (16.137)
2 π i ∂Ω z − a
Remark : As always, we traverse the boundary curve ∂Ω so that the domain Ω lies on
our left. In most applications, Ω is simply connected, and so ∂Ω is a simple closed curve
oriented in the counter-clockwise direction.
It is worth emphasizing that Cauchy’s formula (16.137) is not a form of the Funda-
mental Theorem of Calculus, since we are reconstructing the function by integration —
not its anti-derivative! Cauchy’s formula is a cornerstone of complex analysis, and has no
real counterpart, once again underscoring the profound difference between complex and
real analysis.
Proof : We first prove that the difference quotient
f (z) − f (a)
g(z) =
z−a
is an analytic function on all of Ω. The only problematic point is at z = a where the
denominator vanishes. First, by the definition of complex derivative,
f (z) − f (a)
g(a) = lim = f ′ (a)
z→a z−a
exists and therefore g(z) is well-defined and, in fact, continuous at z = a. Secondly, we
can compute its derivative at z = a directly from the definition:
g(z) − g(a) f (z) − f (a) − f ′ (a) (z − a) 1
g ′ (a) = lim = lim = 2 f ′′ (a),
z→a z−a z→a (z − a)2
where we use Taylor’s Theorem C.1 (or l’Hôpital’s rule) to evaluate the final limit. Knowing
that g is differentiable at z = a suffices to establish that it is analytic on all of Ω. Thus,
we may appeal to Cauchy’s Theorem 16.47, and conclude that
I I I I
f (z) − f (a) f (z) dz
0= g(z) dz = dz = dz − f (a)
∂Ω z−a ∂Ω z − a ∂Ω z − a
I∂Ω
f (z)
= dz − 2 π i f (a).
∂Ω z − a
The second integral was evaluated using (16.123). Rearranging terms completes the proof
of the Cauchy formula. Q.E.D.
Remark : The proof shows that if, in contrast, a 6∈ Ω, then the Cauchy integral van-
ishes: I
1 f (z)
dz = 0.
2 π i ∂Ω z − a
If a ∈ ∂Ω, then the integral does not converge.
12/11/12 922
Let us see how we can apply this result to evaluate seemingly intractable complex
integrals.
Example 16.58. Suppose that you are asked to compute the contour integral
I
ez dz
2
C z − 2z − 3
where C is a circle of radius 2 centered at the origin. A direct evaluation is not possible,
since the integrand does not have an elementary anti-derivative† . However, we note that
ez ez f (z) ez
= = where f (z) =
z2 − 2 z − 3 (z + 1)(z − 3) z+1 z−3
is analytic in the disk | z | ≤ 2 since its only singularity, at z = 3, lies outside the contour
C. Therefore, by Cauchy’s formula (16.137), we immediately obtain the integral
I I
ez dz f (z) πi
2
= dz = 2 π i f (−1) = − .
C z − 2z − 3 C z+1 2e
Note: Path independence implies that the integral has the same value on any other
simple closed contour, provided it is oriented in the usual counter-clockwise direction and
encircles the point z = 1 but not the point z = 3.
In this example, if the contour encloses both singularities, at z = 1 and 3, then we
cannot apply Cauchy’s formula directly. However, as we will see, Theorem 16.57 can be
adapted in a direct manner to such situations. This more general result will lead us directly
to the calculus of residues, to be discussed shortly.
Derivatives by Integration
The fact that we can recover values of complex functions by integration is noteworthy.
Even more amazing‡ is the fact that we can compute derivatives of complex functions
by integration — turning the Fundamental Theorem on its head! Let us differentiate
both sides of Cauchy’s formula (16.137) with respect to a. The integrand in the Cauchy
formula is sufficiently nice so as to allow us to bring the derivative inside the integral sign.
Moreover, the derivative of the Cauchy integrand with respect to a is easily found:

∂ f (z) f (z)
= .
∂a z − a (z − a)2
In this manner, we deduce an integral formulae for the derivative of an analytic function:
I
′ 1 f (z)
f (a) = dz, (16.138)
2 π i C (z − a)2
†
At least not one listed in any integration tables, e.g., [ 83 ]. A more profound analysis, [ Int ],
confirms that its anti-derivative cannot be expressed in closed form using elementary functions.
‡
Readers who have successfully tackled Exercise may be less shocked by this fact.
12/11/12 923
where, as before, C is any closed curve that goes once around the point z = a in a counter-
clockwise direction§ . Further differentiation yields the general integral formulae
I
(n) n! f (z)
f (a) = dz (16.139)
2 π i C (z − a)n+1
that expresses the nth order derivative of a complex function in terms of a contour integral.
These remarkable formulae, which again have no counterpart in real function theory,
can be used to prove our earlier claim that an analytic function is infinitely differentiable,
and thereby complete the proof of Theorem 16.9.
Example 16.59. Let us compute the integral
I I
ez dz ez dz
3 2
= 2
,
C z − z − 5z − 3 C (z + 1) (z − 3)
around the circle of radius 2 centered at the origin. We use (16.138) with
ez (z − 4) ez
f (z) = , whereby f ′ (z) = .
z−3 (z − 3)2
Since f (z) is analytic inside C, the integral formula (16.138) that
I I
ez dz f (z) 5π i
3 2
= 2
dz = 2 π i f ′ (−1) = − .
C z − z − 5z − 3 C (z + 1) 8e
One application is the following remarkable result due to Liouville, whom we already
met in Section 11.5. It says that the only bounded complex functions are the constants!
Theorem 16.60. If f (z) is analytic at all z ∈ C, and satisfies | f (z) | ≤ M for some
fixed positive number M > 0, then f (z) ≡ c is constant.
Proof : According to Cauchy’s formula (16.137), for any point a ∈ C,
I
′ 1 f (z)
f (a) = dz,
2 π i CR (z − a)2
where we take CR = { z | | z − a | = R } to be a circle of radius R centered at z = a. We
then estimate the complex integral using (16.125), whence
I I I
′ 1 f (z)
1 | f (z) | 1 M M
| f (a) | = 2
dz ≤ 2
ds ≤ 2
ds = ,
2π CR (z − a) 2 π CR | z − a | 2 π CR R R
since the length of CR is 2 π R. Since f (z) is analytic everywhere, we can let R → ∞
and conclude that f ′ (a) = 0. Since this occurs for all possible points a, we conclude that
f ′ (z) ≡ 0 is everywhere zero, which suffices to prove constancy of f (z). Q.E.D.
§
Or, more generally, has winding number +1 around the point z = a.
12/11/12 924
One outstanding application of Liouville’s Theorem 16.60 is a proof of the Fundamen-
tal Theorem of Algebra, first proved by Gauss in 1799; see [69] for an extensive discussion.
Although it is, in essence, a purely algebraic result, this proof relies in an essential way on
complex analysis and complex integration.
Theorem 16.61. Every nonconstant (complex or real) polynomial f (z) has at least
one complex root z0 ∈ C.
Proof : Suppose
f (z) = an z n + an−1 z n−1 + · · · + a1 z + a0 6= 0 for all z ∈ C. (16.140)
Then we claim that its reciprocal
1 1
g(z) = = n n−1
f (z) an z + an−1 z + · · · + a1 z + a0
satisfies the hypotheses of Theorem 16.60, and hence must be constant, in contradiction
to our hypothesis. Therefore, f (z) cannot be non-zero for all z, and this establishes the
result.
To prove the claim, note first that our nonvanishing assumption (16.140) implies that
g(z) is analytic for all z ∈ C. Moreover,
a a1 a

| f (z) | = | z |n an + n−1 + · · · + n−1 + n0
z z z whenever | z | ≥ 1,
n
≤ |z| | an | + | an−1 | + · · · + | a1 | + | a0 | ,
which implies that | f (z) | → ∞ as | z | → ∞, and so
1
| g(z) | = −→ 0 as | z | → ∞.
| f (z) |
This suffices to prove that | g(z) | ≤ M is bounded for z ∈ C. Q.E.D.
Corollary 16.62. Every complex polynomial of degree n can be factored,
f (z) = an (z − z1 ) (z − z2 ) · · · (z − zn )
where z1 , . . . , zn are the roots of f (z), listed in accordance with their multiplicity.
Proof : Theorem 16.61 guarantees that there is at least one point z1 ∈ C where f (z1 ) =
0. Therefore, by the rules of polynomial factorization, we can write
f (z) = (z − z1 ) g(z)
where g(z) is a polynomial of degree n − 1. A straightforward induction on the degree of

the polynomial completes the proof. Q.E.D.
12/11/12 925
z=a
Figure 16.32. Computing a Residue.
The Calculus of Residues

Cauchy’s Theorem and Integral Formulae provide us with some amazingly versatile
tools for evaluating complicated complex integrals. The upshot is that one only needs
to understand the singularities of the integrand within the domain of integration — no
indefinite integration is required! With a little more work, we are led to a general method
for efficiently computing contour integrals, known as the Calculus of Residues. While the
residue method has no counterpart in real integration theory, it can, remarkably, be used
to evaluate a large variety of interesting definite real integrals, including many without an
explicitly known anti-derivative.
Definition 16.63. Let f (z) be an analytic function for all z near, but not equal to
a. The residue of f (z) at the point z = a is defined by the contour integral
I
1
Res f (z) = f (z) dz, (16.141)
z =a 2π i C
where C is any simple, closed curve that contains a in its interior, oriented, as always, in
a counter-clockwise direction, and such that f (z) is analytic everywhere inside C except
at the point z = a; see Figure 16.32. For example, C could be a small circle centered at a.
The residue is a complex number, and tells us important information about the singularity
of f (z) at z = a.
The simplest example is the monomial function f (z) = c z n , where c is a complex
constant and the exponent n is assumed to be an integer. (Residues are not defined at
branch points.) According to (16.112),
I
n 1 n 0, n 6= −1,
Res c z = c z dz = (16.142)
z =0 2π i C c, n = −1.
Thus, only the case n = −1 gives a nonzero residue. The residue singles out the function
1/z, which, not coincidentally, is the only one with a logarithmic, and multiply-valued,
antiderivative.
12/11/12 926
Cauchy’s Theorem 16.47, when applied to the integral in (16.141), implies that if f (z)
is analytic at z = a, then it has zero residue at a. Therefore, all the monomials, including
1/z, have zero residue at any nonzero point:
Res c z n = 0 for a 6= 0. (16.143)

z =a
Since integration is a linear operation, the residue is a linear operator, mapping com-
plex functions to complex numbers:

Res f (z) + g(z) = Res f (z) + Res g(z), Res c f (z) = c Res f (z), (16.144)
z =a z =a z =a z =a z =a
for any complex constant c. Thus, by linearity, the residue of any finite linear combination
of monomials,
n
X
c−m c−m+1 c−1 n
f (z) = + + · · · + + c0 + c1 z + · · · + cn z = ck z k ,
zm z m−1 z
k = −m
is equal to
Res f (z) = c−1 .
z =0
Thus, the residue effectively picks out the coefficient of the term 1/z in such an expansion.
The easiest nontrivial residues to compute are at the poles of a function. According
to (16.29), the function f (z) has a simple pole at z = a if
h(z) = (z − a) f (z) (16.145)

is analytic at z = a and h(a) 6= 0. The next result allows us to bypass the contour integral
when evaluating such a residue.
h(z)
Lemma 16.64. If f (z) = has a simple pole at z = a, then Res f (z) = h(a).
z−a z =a
Proof : We substitute the formula for f (z) into the definition (16.141), and so
I I
1 1 h(z) dz
Res f (z) = f (z) dz = = h(a)
z =a 2π i C 2π i C z − a
by Cauchy’s formula (16.137). Q.E.D.
Example 16.65. Consider the function
ez ez
f (z) = = .
z2 − 2 z − 3 (z + 1)(z − 3)
From the factorization of the denominator, we see that f (z) has simple pole singularities
at z = −1 and z = 3. The residues are given, respectively, by

ez ez 1 ez ez e3
Res 2 = = − , Res = = .
z = −1 z − 2 z − 3 z − 3 z = −1 4e z = 3 z2 − 2 z − 3 z + 1 z = 3 4
Since f (z) is analytic everywhere else, its residue at any other point is automatically 0.
12/11/12 927
Recall that a function g(z) is said to have simple zero at z = a provided
g(z) = (z − a) k(z)
where k(z) is analytic at z = a and k(a) = g ′ (a) 6= 0. If f (z) is analytic at z = a, then the
quotient
f (z) f (z)
=
g(z) (z − a) k(z)
has a simple pole at z = a, with residue
f (z) f (z) f (a) f (a)
Res = Res = = ′ (16.146)
z =a g(z) z = a (z − a) k(z) k(a) g (a)
by Lemma 16.64. More generally, if z = a is a zero of order n of
n g (n) (a)
g(z) = (z − a) k(z), so that k(a) = 6 0,
=
n!
then
f (z) 1 dn−1 f (z)
Res = . (16.147)
z = a g(z) (n − 1) ! dz n−1 k(z)
z=a
The proof of the latter formula is left as Exercise .
Example 16.66. As an illustration, let us compute the residue of sec z = 1/ cos z at
the point z = 12 π. Note that cos z has a simple zero at z = 12 π since its derivative, namely
− sin z, is nonzero there. Thus, according to (16.146) with f (z) ≡ 1,
1 −1
Res sec z = Res = = − 1.
z = π/2 z = π/2 cos z sin 12 π
The direct computation of the residue using the defining contour integral (16.141) is much
harder.
The Residue Theorem

Residues are the building blocks of a general method for computing contour integrals
of analytic functions. The Residue Theorem says that the value of the integral of a complex
function around a closed curve depends only on its residues at the enclosed singularities.
Since the residues can be computed directly from the function, the resulting formula pro-
vides an effective mechanism for painless evaluation of complex integrals, that completely
avoids the anti-derivative. Indeed, the residue method copntinues to be effective even when
the integrand does not have an anti-derivative that can be expressed in terms of elementary
functions.
Theorem 16.67. Let C be a simple, closed curve, oriented in the counter-clockwise
direction. Suppose f (z) is analytic everywhere inside C except at a finite number of
singularities, a1 , . . . , an . Then
I
1
f (z) dz = Res f (z) + · · · + Res f (z). (16.148)
2π i C z = a1 z = an
12/11/12 928
C1
a1
C2
a2
C
Figure 16.33. Residues Inside a Contour.
Keep in mind that only the singularities that lie inside the contour C contribute to
the residue formula (16.148).
Proof : We draw a small circle Ci around each singularity ai . We assume the circles
all lie inside the contour C and do not cross each other, so that ai is the only singularity
contained within Ci ; see Figure 16.33. Definition 16.63 implies that
I
1
Res f (z) = f (z) dz, (16.149)
z = ai 2 π i Ci
where the line integral is taken in the counter-clockwise direction around Ci .

Consider the domain Ω consisting of all points z which lie inside the given curve C, but
outside all the small circles C1 , . . . , Cn ; this is the shaded region in Figure 16.33. By our
construction, the function f (z) is analytic on Ω, and hence by Cauchy’s Theorem 16.47,
the integral of f (z) around the boundary ∂Ω is zero. The boundary ∂Ω must be oriented
consistently, so that the domain is always lying on one’s left hand side. This means that
the outside contour C should be traversed in a counter-clockwise direction, whereas the
inside circles Ci are taken in a clockwise direction. Therefore, the integral around the
boundary of the domain Ω can be broken up into a difference
I I n
X I
1 1 1
0= f (z) dz = f (z) − dz f (z) dz
2π i ∂Ω 2π i C 2π i Ci
i=1
I Xn
1
= f (z) − Res f (z) dz.
2π i C i=1
z = ai
The minus sign converts the circular integrals to the counterclockwise orientation used in
the definition (16.149) of the residues. Rearranging the final identity leads to the residue
formula (16.148). Q.E.D.
12/11/12 929
Example 16.68. Let us use residues to evaluate the contour integral
I
ez
2
dz
Cr z − 2 z − 3
where Cr denotes the circle of radius r centered at the origin. According to Example 16.65,
the integrand has two singularities at −1 and 3, with respective residues − 1/(4 e) and e3 /4.
If the radius of the circle is r > 3, then it goes around both singularities, and hence by the
residue formula (16.148)
I
ez dz 1 e3 (e4 − 1) π i
2
= 2 π i − + = , r > 3.
C z − 2z − 3 4e 4 2e
If the circle has radius 1 < r < 3, then it only encircles the singularity at −1, and hence
I
ez πi
2
dz = − , 1 < r < 3.
C z − 2z − 3 2e
If 0 < r < 1, the function has no singularities inside the circle and hence, by Cauchy’s
Theorem 16.47, the integral is 0. Finally, when r = 1 or r = 3, the contour passes through
a singularity, and the integral does not converge.
Evaluation of Real Integrals

One important — and unexpected — application of the Residue Theorem 16.67 is to
aid in the evaluation of certain definite real integrals. Of particular note is that it even
applies to cases in which one is unable to evaluate the corresponding indefinite integral
in closed form. Nevertheless, converting the definite real integral into (part of a) complex
contour integral leads to a direct evaluation via the calculus of residues that sidesteps the
difficulties in finding the antiderivative.
The method treats two basic types of real integral, although numerous variations ap-
pear in more extensive treatments of the subject. The first category are real trigonometric
integrals of the form
Z 2π
I= F (cos θ, sin θ) dθ. (16.150)
0
Such integrals can often
be evaluated
by converting them into complex integrals around
the unit circle C = | z | = 1 . If we set
1
z = eiθ so = e− i θ ,
z
then

e i θ + e− i θ 1 1 e i θ − e− i θ 1 1
cos θ = = z+ , sin θ = = z− .
2 2 z 2i 2i z
(16.151)
Moreover,
dz
dz = de i θ = i e i θ dθ = i z dθ, and so dθ = . (16.152)
iz
12/11/12 930
Therefore, the integral (16.150) can be written in the complex form
I
z + z −1 z + z −1 dz
I= F , . (16.153)
C 2 2i iz
If we know that the resulting complex integrand is well-defined and single-valued, except,
possibly, for a finite number of singularities inside the unit circle, then the residue for-
mula (16.148) tells us that the integral can be directly evaluated by adding together its
residues and multiplying by 2 π i .
Example 16.69. We compute the relatively simple example
Z 2π
dθ
.
0 2 + cos θ
Applying the substitution (16.153), we find
Z 2π I I
dθ dz 2 dz
= 1
= −i 2
.
0 2 + cos θ C i z 2 + 2 (z + z
−1 ) C z + 4z + 1
The complex integrand has singularities where its denominator vanishes:

√
z 2 + 4 z + 1 = 0, so that z = −2 ± 3 .
√
Only one of these singularities, namely − 2 + 3 lies inside the unit circle. Therefore,
applying (16.146), we find
I
2 dz 2 4 π 2π
−i 2
= 2 π Res √ 2 = √
=√ .
C z + 4z + 1 z = −2+ 3 z + 4 z + 1 2 z + 4 z = −2+ 3 3
As you may recall from first year calculus, this particular integral can, in fact, be computed
directly via a trigonometric substitution. However, the integration is not particularly
pleasant, and, with a little practice, the residue method is seen to be an easier method.
Moreover, it straightforwardly applies to situations where no elementary anti-derivative
exists.
Example 16.70. The goal is to evaluate the definite integral
Z π
cos 2θ
dθ.
0 3 − cos θ
The first thing to note is that the integral omnly runs from 0 to π and so is not explicitly
of the form (16.150). However, note that the integrand is even, and so
Z π Z
cos 2θ 1 π cos 2θ
dθ = dθ,
0 3 − cos θ 2 − π 3 − cos θ
which will turn into a contour integral around the entire unit circle under the substitution
(16.151). Also note that

e2 i θ + e− 2 i θ 1 2 1
cos 2 θ = = z + 2 ,
2 2 z
12/11/12 931
and so
Z π I 1 2 −2 I
cos 2θ 2 (z + z ) dz z4 + 1
dθ = 1 = i dz.
−π 3 − cos θ C 3 −1
− 2 (z + z ) iz C z 2 (z 2 − 6 z + 1)
√ √
The denominator has 4 roots — at 0, 3 − 2 2, and 3 + 2 2 — but the last one does not
lie inside the unit circle and so cn be ignored. We use (16.146) with f (z) = (z 4 + 1)/z 2
and g(z) = z 2 − 6 z + 1 to compute

z4 + 1 z 4 + 1 1 17
√
Res√ 2 2
= 2 √
= 4
2,
z = 3−2 2 z (z − 6 z + 1) z z = −2+ 3 2 z − 6
whereas (16.147) is used to compute

z4 + 1 d z4 + 1 2(z 5 − 9 z 4 + 2 z 3 − z + 3)
Res 2 2 = = = 6.
z = 0 z (z − 6 z + 1) dz z2 − 6 z + 1 (z 2 − 6 z + 1)2
z =0 z =0
Therefore,
Z π
cos 2θ z4 + 1 z4 + 1 17
√
dθ = π Res 2 2 + Res√ 2 2 = −6π + 4 2 π.
0 3 − cos θ z = 0 z (z − 6 z + 1) z = 3−2 2 z (z − 6 z + 1)
A second type of real integral that can often be evaluated by complex residues are
integrals over the entire real line, from −∞ to ∞. Here the technique is a little more subtle,
and we sneak up on the integral by using larger and larger closed contours that include
more and more of the real axis. The basic idea is contained in the following example.
Example 16.71. The problem is to evaluate the real integral

Z ∞
cos x
I= dx. (16.154)
0 1 + x2
The corresponding indefinite integral cannot be evaluated in elementary terms, and so we
are forced to rely on the calculus of residues. We begin by noting that the integrand is
even, and hence the integral I = 21 J is one half the integral
Z ∞
cos x
J= dx
−∞ 1 + x2
over the entire real line. Moreover, for x real, we can write
Z ∞
cos x eix eix
= Re , and hence J = Re dx. (16.155)
1 + x2 1 + x2 −∞ 1 + x2
Let CR be the closed contour consisting of a large semicircle of radius R ≫ 0, which

we denote by SR , connected at its ends by the real interval − R ≤ x ≤ R, as plotted
12/11/12 932
SR
−R R
Figure 16.34. The Semicircular Contour.
in Figure 16.34 Figure 16.34, and having the usual counterclockwise orientation. The
corresponding contour integral
I Z R ix Z
e i z dz e dx e i z dz
2
= 2
+ 2
(16.156)
CR 1 + z −R 1 + x SR 1 + z
breaks up into two pieces: the first over the real interval, and the second over the semicircle.
As the radius R → ∞, the semicircular contour CR includes more and more of the real
axis, and so the first integral gets closer and closer to our desired integral (16.155). If
we can prove that the second, semicircular integral goes to zero, then we will be able to
evaluate the integral over the real axis by contour integration, and hence by the method
of residues. Our hope that the semicircular integral is small seems reasonable, since the
integrand (1 + z 2 )−1 e i z gets smaller and smaller as | z | → ∞ provided Im z ≥ 0. (Why?)
A rigorous verification of this fact will appear at the end of the example.
According to the Residue Theorem 16.67, the integral (16.156) is equal to the sum of
all the residues at the singularities of f (z) lying inside the contour CR . Now ez is analytic
everywhere, and so the singularities occur where the denominator vanishes, i.e., z 2 = − 1,
and so are at z = ± i . Since the semicircle lies in the upper half plane Im z > 0, only the
singularity z = + i lies inside — and then only when R > 1. To compute the residue, we
use (16.146) to evaluate

eiz e i z e−1 1
Res 2
= = = .
z= i 1 + z 2z z= i 2i 2ie
Therefore, by (16.148),
I
1 e i z dz 1
2
= , provided R > 1.
2π i CR 1+z 2ie
Thus, assuming the semicircular part of the integral does indeed become vanishingly small
as R → ∞, we conclude that
Z ∞ ix I
e dx e i z dz 1 π
2
= lim 2
= 2π i = .
−∞ 1 + x R→∞ CR 1 + z 2ie e
12/11/12 933
Incidentally, the integral is real because its imaginary part,
Z ∞
sin x dx
2
= 0,
−∞ 1 + x
is the integral of an odd function which is automatically zero. Consequently,

Z ∞ Z ∞ ix
cos x dx 1 e dx π
I= 2
= Re 2
= , (16.157)
0 1+x 2 −∞ 1 + x 2e
which is the desired result.
To complete the argument, let us estimate the size of the semicircular integral. The
integrand is bounded by

eiz 1 1

1 + z 2 ≤ 1 + | z |2 = 1 + R 2 whenever | z | = R, Im z ≥ 0,
where we are using the fact that

iz
e = e−y ≤ 1 whenever z = x+ iy with y ≥ 0.
According to Corollary 16.55, the size of the integral of a complex function is bounded
by its maximum modulus along the curve times the length of the semicircle, namely πR.
Thus, in our case,
Z
e iz
dz
≤ πR ≤ π −→ 0 as R −→ ∞,
2 1 + R2
SR 1 + z R
as required.
Example 16.72. Here we will use residues to evaluate the real integral
Z ∞
dx
4
. (16.158)
−∞ 1 + x
The indefinite integral can, in fact, be found by the method of partial fractions, but, as
you may know, this is not a particularly pleasant task. Let us try the method of residues.
Let CR denote the same semicircular contour as in Figure 16.34. The integrand has pole
singularities where the denominator vanishes, i.e., z 4 = −1, and so at the four fourth roots
of −1. These are
1+ i −1 + i 1− i −1 − i
eπ i /4 = √ , e3 π i /4 = √ , e5 π i /4 = √ , e7 π i /4 = √ .
2 2 2 2
Only the first two roots lie inside CR when R > 1. Their residues can be computed using
(16.146):
1 1 e−3 π i /4 −1 − i
Res 4
= 3 = = √ ,
z = eπ i /4 1 + z 4 z z = eπ i /4 4 4 2

1 1 e−9 π i /4 1− i
Res 4
= 3 = = √ .
z = e3 π i /4 1 + z 4z z =e 3 π i /4 4 4 2
12/11/12 934
Therefore, by the residue formula (16.148),
I
dz −1 − i 1− i π
4
= 2π i √ + √ =√ . (16.159)
CR 1 + z 4 2 4 2 2
On the other hand, we can break up the contour integral into an integral along the
real axis and an integral around the semicircle:
I Z R Z
dz dx dz
4
= 4
+ 4
.
CR 1 + z −R 1 + x SR 1 + z
The first integral goes to the desired real integral as the radius R → ∞. On the other
hand, on a large semicircle | z | = R, the integrand is small:

1 1 1

1 + z 4 ≤ 1 + | z |4 = 1 + R 4 when | z | = R.
Thus, using Corollary 16.55, the integral around the semicircle can be bounded by
Z
dz 1 π
≤ πR ≤ −→ 0 as R −→ ∞.
4 4 R3
SR 1 + z 1+R
Thus, as R → ∞, the complex integral (16.159) goes to the desired real integral (16.158),
and so Z ∞
dx π
4
= √ .
−∞ 1 + x 2
Note that the result is real and positive, as it must be.
12/11/12 935

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Chapter 16

16.1. Complex Variables.

f (z) = f (x + i y) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y), (16.1)

u(x, y) = Re f (z), and v(x, y) = Im f (z). (16.2)

p(z) = an z n + an−1 z n−1 + · · · + a1 z + a0 (16.4)

ez = ex+ i y = ex cos y + i ex sin y

∆ = ∂x2 + ∂y2 = (∂x − i ∂y ) (∂x + i ∂y ),

u(x, y) = f (x + i y) + g(x − i y), (16.6)

f (x + i y) + g(x − i y) = u(x, y) = u(x, y) = f (x + i y) + g(x − i y).

− i f (z) = − i [ u(x, y) + i v(x, y)] = v(x, y) − i u(x, y).

f (z) = f (x + i y) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y),

ez = ex cos y + i ex sin y (16.15)

ec z = ea x−b y cos(b x + a y) + i ea x−b y sin(b x + a y). (16.16)

log z = log(r e i θ ) = log r + log e i θ = log r + i θ, (16.18)

Re (log z) = log r = log | z | = 1

Figure 16.4. Square Roots of a Complex Number.

Since θ = ph z is only defined up to an integer multiple of 2 π, the angle 12 θ is only defined

16.2. Complex Differentiation.

Definition 16.2. A complex function f (z) is differentiable at a point z ∈ C if and

Figure 16.6. Complex Derivative Directions.

Power Series and Analyticity

which converges for all z sufficiently close to z0 .

Example 16.7. The complex function

is analytic at z = −1 with h2 (−1) = − 41 e−1 6= 0, we see that the point z = −1 is a double

Theorem 16.8. Any analytic function is infinitely differentiable.

Figure 16.7. Radius of Convergence.

In particular, when we substitute z = z0 into the successively differentiated series, we

for the function f (z) at the point z0 .

Remark : As a consequence of (16.23) and the Cauchy–Riemann equations (16.34),

f (z) = u(x, y) − i v(x, y) (16.41)

z = z, or, in real form, x = x, y = − y.

The origin x = y = 0 is a stagnation point. The trajectories of the nonstationary solutions

z(t) = x0 et + i y0 e−t (16.45)

z(t) = (x0 cosh t + y0 sinh t) + i (x0 sinh t + y0 cosh t),

Using the formula (16.23) for the complex derivative,

The corresponding complex fluid velocity is

Figure 16.14. Mapping to the Unit Disk.

16.4. Conformal Mapping.

ζ = g(z) or ξ + i η = p(x, y) + i q(x, y) (16.50)

as a mapping that takes a point z = x + i y belonging to a prescribed domain Ω ⊂ C to

g ′ (z) 6= 0 at every point z ∈ Ω, (16.52)

ζ = e i ϕ z = (x cos ϕ − y sin ϕ) + i (x sin ϕ + y cos ϕ) (16.55)

Example 16.19. A more interesting example is the complex function

ζ = g(z) = ez , or ξ = ex cos y, η = ex sin y, (16.58)

Figure 16.16. The Effect of ζ = z 2 on Various Domains.

Figure 16.17. A Conformal Map.

and hence ζ lies within the unit disk.

Figure 16.18. Complex Curve and Tangent.

the curve is guaranteed by the requirement that z(t) 6= 0.

Example 16.26. (a) The curve

z(t) = e i t = cos t + i sin t, for 0 ≤ t ≤ 2 π,

velocity. The modulus of the tangent, | z | = x2 + y 2 , indicates the particle’s speed,

curve makes with the horizontal; see Figure 16.18.

Theorem 16.27. If ζ = g(z) is an analytic function and g ′ (z) 6= 0, then g defines a

Figure 16.20. The Joukowski Map.

Example 16.28. A particularly interesting conformal transformation is given by the

Composition and The Riemann Mapping Theorem