Complex Analysis II, Easter 2025. Revision Lecture (for the Michaelmas Term) Solutions

  1. Let \(U\subset \mathbb C\) be an open set. Define what it means for a function \(f:U\to \mathbb C\) to be complex differentiable at a point \(z_0\in U\).

  2. State the Cauchy-Riemann equations.

  3. Let \(f:U\to \mathbb C\) be the function defined by \[f(z)=f(x+iy)=x\cos(y)+\sinh(iy)\cosh(x).\] Use the Cauchy-Riemann equations to determine the points \(z_0\in\mathbb C\) where \(f\) is complex differentiable.

  1. A function \(f:U\to\mathbb C\) is complex differentiable at \(z_0\in U\) if \[\lim_{z\to z_0}\frac{f(z)-f(z_0)}{z-z_0}\] exists.

  2. The pair of functions \(u,v:U\to \mathbb R\) satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equation at \(z_0=x_0+iy_0\) if \[u_x\left( x_0,y_0\right) = v_y\left( x_0,y_0\right),\qquad u_y\left( x_0,y_0\right)=-v_x\left( x_0,y_0\right).\]

  3. We know that a function \(f=u+iv\), with \(u,v:U\to\mathbb R\), is complex differentiable at \(z_0=x_0+iy_0\in U\) if and only if \(u\) and \(v\) are differentiable at \(\left( x_0,y_0\right)\) and satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations. In order to identify \(u\) and \(v\) we first need to simplify \(\sinh\left( iy\right)\). We have that \[\sinh\left( iy\right) = \frac{e^{iy}-e^{-iy}}{2} = i\sin(y)\] and consequently \[f(z) = x\cos(y)+i\sin(y)\cosh(x)=u(x,y)+iv(x,y)\] where \(u(x,y)=x\cos(y)\) and \(v(x,y)=\sin(y)\cosh(x)\). We have that \[u_x\left( x,y\right) = \cos(y),\qquad v_y(x,y)=\cos(y)\cosh(x),\] \[u_y(x,y)=-x\sin(y),\qquad v_x(x,y)=\sin(y)\sinh(x).\] Using Cauchy-Riemann equation we find that \[\cos(y)=\cos(y)\cosh(x),\qquad x\sin(y)=\sin(y)\sinh(x).\] The first equation implies that \(\cos(y)=0\) or \(\cosh(x)=1\), i.e. \(y=\frac{\pi}{2}+n\pi\) with \(n\in\mathbb Z\) or \(x=0\).
    When \(y=\frac{\pi}{2}+n\pi\) with \(n\in\mathbb Z\): we have that the second equation reads as \[\left( -1\right)^n x =x\sin\left( \frac{\pi}{2}+n\pi\right)=\sin\left( \frac{\pi}{2}+n\pi\right)\sinh(x) = \left( -1\right)^n \sinh(x)\] or \(x=\sinh(x)\). There is only one solution to this equation, which is \(x=0\).
    When \(x=0\): we have that the second equation reads as \[0=0\cdot \sin(y)=\sin(y)\sinh(0)=0,\] i.e. the equation always holds.
    In conclusion, Cauchy-Riemann equations hold for any \(\left( x_0,y_0\right)\) such that \(x_0=0\) and as \(u\) and \(v\) are differentiable we conclude that \(f\) is complex differentiable if and only if \(z_0\in i\mathbb R\).

  1. Prove that for each \(a\in \mathbb R\), \(a>0\), the series \[\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^{-z}\] converges uniformly on \(\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1+a\right\rbrace\) where \(n^{-z}\) is defined using the principal logarithm [You may use without proof that \(\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^{-b}\), \(b\in\mathbb R\), \(b>1\), converges.]

  2. Does the series \(\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^{-z}\) defines a continuous function on \(\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1\right\rbrace\)? Justify your response.

  3. Does the series \(\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^{-z}\) converge uniformly on \(\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)\geq 1\right\rbrace\)? Justify your response.

  1. We will aim to use one of Weierstrass M-tests – standard or its local variant. Denote by \(f_n(z)=n^{-z}\). We notice that for any \(z\in \mathbb C\) \[{\left|f_n(z)\right|} = {\left|e^{-z\mathop{\mathrm{Log}}n}\right|} = {\left|e^{-\mathrm{Re}\left( z\right)\log n}e^{-i\mathrm{Im}\left( z\right)\log n}\right|} = e^{-\mathrm{Re}\left( z\right)\log n} = n^{-\mathrm{Re}\left( z\right)}.\] On \(\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1+a\right\rbrace\) we have that \[{\left|f_n(z)\right|} \leq n^{-1+a}=M_n.\] Using the given hint we have that \(\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}M_n<\infty\) and consequently, using Weierstrass’ M-test, we conclude that \(\sum_{n=1}^\infty f_n(z)\) converges uniformly on \(\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1+a\right\rbrace\).

  2. The idea is similar to the previous result, though we see that we can’t avoid having \(a>0\) in using Weierstrass’ M-test. However, we know that \(\sum_{n=1}^\infty f_n(z)\) converges uniformly on \(\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1+a\right\rbrace\) for any \(a>0\). Given \(w\in \left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1\right\rbrace\) we can find \(a_w>0\) such that \(w\in\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1+a_w\right\rbrace\), for example \(a_w = \frac{1+\mathrm{Re}\left( w\right)}{2}\). In other words, for any \(w\in \left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1\right\rbrace\) there exists an open set \(U_w=\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1+a_w\right\rbrace\) that contains \(w\) and on which the series converges uniformly. This means, by definition, that \(\sum_{n=1}^\infty f_n(z)\) converges locally uniformly on \(\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)>1\right\rbrace\). As \(f_n(z)\) are continuous in the domain for any \(n\in\mathbb N\) we conclude from a theorem from class that the resulting function is also continuous.

  3. We notice that when \(z=1\) the series is nothing but the harmonic series \(\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^{-1}\) which doesn’t converge. Consequently the series can’t converge uniformly in \(\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)\geq 1\right\rbrace\) as it doesn’t even converge pointwise there.

Consider the set \(U=\mathbb C\setminus \left\lbrace iy\;:\;y\in\mathbb R,\;y\leq 0\right\rbrace\).

  1. Sketch the set \(U\) in \(\mathbb C\).

  2. Is \(U\) an open set? Justify your response.

  3. Find a biholomorphic map from \(U\) to the open unit disc \(\mathbb{D}=\left\lbrace z\in \mathbb C\;:\; {\left|z\right|}<1\right\rbrace\) and justify why this map is biholomorphic.

  1. The set \(U\) is open. We can show it by definition, i.e. by showing that for any \(z\in U\) there exists \(\epsilon>0\) such that \(B_\epsilon(z)\subset U\), or by showing that \(U^c\) is closed.
    By definition: Given \(z\in U\) we have that \(\mathrm{Re}\left( z\right)\not=0\) or \(z=iy\) with \(y>0\). In the former case we choose \(\epsilon=\frac{{\left|\mathrm{Re}(z)\right|}}{2}\) and find that for any \(w\in B_{\epsilon}(z)\), \(\mathrm{Re}(w)\not=0\). Indeed, we have that \[\mathrm{Re}\left( w\right) = \mathrm{Re}{z}+\mathrm{Re}\left( w-z\right).\] If \(\mathrm{Re}(w)=0\) then \[\mathrm{Re}(z) = \mathrm{Re}\left( z-w\right)\] which implies that \[{\left|\mathrm{Re}(z)\right|} = {\left|\mathrm{Re}\left( z-w\right)\right|} \leq {\left|z-w\right|} < \frac{{\left|\mathrm{Re}(z)\right|}}{2},\] which is impossible. Consequently, \(B_{\epsilon}(z)\subset U\).
    Consider now the case where \(z=iy\) with \(y>0\). Then we claim that \(B_{\frac{y}{2}}(z)\subset U\). Indeed, for any \(w\in B_{\frac{y}{2}}(z)\) \[\mathrm{Im}(w) = \mathrm{Im}(z)+\mathrm{Im}(w-z) = y + \mathrm{Im}(w-z).\] Since \({\left|\mathrm{Im}(w-z)\right|} \leq {\left|w-z\right|} < \frac{y}{2}\) we have that \[\mathrm{Im}(w) > y - \frac{y}{2}=\frac{y}{2}>0,\] which shows that \(w\in U\). As \(w\) was arbitrary we conclude that \(B_{\frac{y}{2}}(z)\subset U\) and with it the openness of \(U\).
    By using \(U^c\): By definition we find that \[U^c = \mathbb C\setminus U = \left\lbrace iy\;:\; y\in\mathbb R,\;y\leq 0\right\rbrace.\] To show that \(U^c\) is closed we will show that if \(\left\lbrace z_n\right\rbrace_{n\in\mathbb N}\subset U^c\) converges to a point \(z\in \mathbb C\), then \(z\in U^c\). Indeed, assuming that \(\left\lbrace z_n\right\rbrace_{n\in\mathbb N}\) converges to \(z\) implies that \[\mathrm{Im}\left( z_n\right)\underset{n\to\infty}{\longrightarrow}\mathrm{Im}(z).\] Since \(\left\lbrace z_n\right\rbrace_{n\in\mathbb N}\subset U\) we find that \(\mathrm{Im}\left( z_n\right)\leq 0\) for all \(n\in\mathbb N\). Consequently, \(\mathrm{Im}(z)\leq 0\) as the limit of non-positive sequence. This implies that \(z\in U^c\) and concludes the proof.

  2. When considering maps to unit spheres powers and Möbius transformations come to mind. In our case we see that by rotating the domain by \(\frac{\pi}{2}\) clockwise we get the domain \[\left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)\leq 0\right\rbrace\] which lends itself well to powers that use the principal logarithm. This will allow us to use the principal squared root, \(\sqrt{z}\), which will take the above domain to the right half plane. At this point we can rotate the domain by \(\frac{\pi}{2}\) anti-clockwise we get the upper half plane and use the Cayley map which we know take the upper half plane to \(\mathbb{D}\).
    More formally: Consider the maps \[f_1:\mathbb C\to \mathbb C,\qquad f_1(z)=e^{-\frac{i\pi}{2}}z\] \[f_2: \mathbb C\setminus \left\lbrace z\in\mathbb C\;:\; \mathrm{Re}(z)\leq 0\right\rbrace\to \mathbb{H}_R,\qquad f_2(z)=\sqrt{z},\] where the principal branch of the logarithm was chosen, \[f_3:\mathbb{H}_R\to \mathbb{H},\qquad f_3(z)=e^{\frac{i\pi}{2}}z,\] \[f_4:\mathbb{H}\to\mathbb{D},\qquad f_4(z)=\frac{z-i}{z+i}.\] Each of these maps is holomorphic with a holomorphic inverse in the appropriate domain \[f_1^{-1}(z) = f_3(z),\;\; f_2^{-1}(z)=z^2,\;\; f_3^{-1}(z)=f_1(z),\;\; f_4^{-1}(z)=i\frac{z+1}{1-z},\] showing that each map is biholomorphic in the appropriate domain. The desired map would be \[f(z) = f_4\circ f_3 \circ f_2 \circ f_1 (z).\]