Complex Analysis
Complex Analysis
Complex analytic redirects here. For the class of functions often called complex analytic, see Holomorphic
function.
Complex analysis, traditionally known as the the-
and many more in the 20th century. Complex analysis, in particular the theory of conformal mappings, has
many physical applications and is also used throughout
analytic number theory. In modern times, it has become very popular through a new boost from complex
dynamics and the pictures of fractals produced by iterating holomorphic functions. Another important applicaPlot of the function f(x) = (x2 1)(x 2 i)2 / (x2 + 2 + 2i). tion of complex analysis is in string theory which studies
The hue represents the function argument, while the brightness conformal invariants in quantum eld theory.
represents the magnitude.
2 Complex functions
A complex function is one in which the independent variable and the dependent variable are both complex numbers. More precisely, a complex function is a function whose domain and range are subsets of the complex
plane.
Complex analysis is particularly concerned with analytic For any complex function, both the independent variable
functions of complex variables (or, more generally, and the dependent variable may be separated into real and
meromorphic functions). Because the separate real and imaginary parts:
imaginary parts of any analytic function must satisfy
Laplaces equation, complex analysis is widely applicable
z = x + iy and
to two-dimensional problems in physics.
w = f (z) = u (x, y) + iv (x, y)
History
Complex analysis is one of the classical branches in mathematics with roots in the 19th century and just prior. Important mathematicians associated with complex analysis include Euler, Gauss, Riemann, Cauchy, Weierstrass,
u = u (x, y) and
v = v (x, y)
1
REFERENCES
can be interpreted as real-valued functions of the two real for the fundamental theorem of algebra which states that
variables, x and y.
the eld of complex numbers is algebraically closed.
The basic concepts of complex analysis are often introduced by extending the elementary real functions
(e.g., exponential functions, logarithmic functions, and
trigonometric functions) into the complex domain.
If a function is holomorphic throughout a connected domain then its values are fully determined by its values on
any smaller subdomain. The function on the larger domain is said to be analytically continued from its values
on the smaller domain. This allows the extension of the
denition of functions, such as the Riemann zeta function, which are initially dened in terms of innite sums
3 Holomorphic functions
that converge only on limited domains to almost the entire
complex plane. Sometimes, as in the case of the natural
Main article: Holomorphic function
logarithm, it is impossible to analytically continue a holomorphic function to a non-simply connected domain in
Holomorphic functions are complex functions, dened the complex plane but it is possible to extend it to a holoon an open subset of the complex plane, that are morphic function on a closely related surface known as a
dierentiable.
Complex dierentiability has much Riemann surface.
stronger consequences than usual (real) dierentiabil- All this refers to complex analysis in one variable. There
ity. For instance, holomorphic functions are innitely is also a very rich theory of complex analysis in more
dierentiable, whereas most real dierentiable func- than one complex dimension in which the analytic proptions are not. Most elementary functions, including the erties such as power series expansion carry over whereas
exponential function, the trigonometric functions, and all most of the geometric properties of holomorphic funcpolynomial functions, are holomorphic.
tions in one complex dimension (such as conformality)
See also: analytic function, holomorphic sheaf and vector do not carry over. The Riemann mapping theorem about
the conformal relationship of certain domains in the combundles.
plex plane, which may be the most important result in the
one-dimensional theory, fails dramatically in higher dimensions.
Major results
5 See also
Complex dynamics
List of complex analysis topics
Real analysis
Runges theorem
Several complex variables
Real-valued function
Function of a real variable
Real multivariable function
6 References
Ahlfors, L., Complex Analysis, 3 ed. (McGraw-Hill,
1979).
Stephen D. Fisher, Complex Variables, 2 ed. (Dover,
1999).
Carathodory, C., Theory of Functions of a Complex
Variable (Chelsea, New York). [2 volumes.]
3
Henrici, P., Applied and Computational Complex
Analysis (Wiley). [Three volumes: 1974, 1977,
1986.]
Kreyszig, E., Advanced Engineering Mathematics,
10 ed., Ch.13-18 (Wiley, 2011).
Markushevich, A.I.,Theory of Functions of a Complex Variable (Prentice-Hall, 1965). [Three volumes.]
Marsden & Homan, Basic Complex Analysis. 3 ed.
(Freeman, 1999).
Needham, T., Visual Complex Analysis (Oxford,
1997).
Rudin, W., Real and Complex Analysis, 3 ed.
(McGraw-Hill, 1986).
Scheidemann, V., Introduction to complex analysis
in several variables (Birkhauser, 2005)
Shaw, W.T., Complex Analysis with Mathematica
(Cambridge, 2006).
Spiegel, Murray R. Theory and Problems of Complex Variables - with an introduction to Conformal
Mapping and its applications (McGraw-Hill, 1964).
Stein & Shakarchi, Complex Analysis (Princeton,
2003).
External links
Complex Analysis -- textbook by George Cain
Complex analysis course web site by Douglas N.
Arnold
Example problems in complex analysis
A collection of links to programs for visualizing
complex functions (and related)
Complex Analysis Project by John H. Mathews
Hans Lundmarks complex analysis page (many
links)
Wolfram Researchs MathWorld Complex Analysis
Page
Complex function demos
Application of Complex Functions in 2D Digital Image Transformation
Complex Visualizer - Java applet for visualizing arbitrary complex functions
Complex Map - iOS app for visualizing complex
functions and iterations
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