Complex analysis - Rouche's theorem

In summary, we are trying to find the number of solutions of the equation e^iz - z^2n - a = 0 in the upper half of the complex plane, where n is a natural number and a is a real number greater than 1. To do this, we can use Rouche's theorem and break the equation into two functions, e^iz and -z^2n - a. By choosing a contour and using the triangle inequality, we can show that e^iz dominates over -z^2n - a on the boundary of the contour, which means that the number of zeros of e^iz within the contour is equal to the number of zeros of e^iz - z^2n -
  • #1
sari
24
1
1. find the number of solutions of e^iz - z^2n - a = 0 in the upper half of the complex plane, where n is a natural number and a is a real number such that a>1.



2. Rouche's theorem: If f and g are analytic functions in a domain, and |f|>|g| on the boundary of the domain, then the number of zeros of f+g within the domain equals the number of zeros of f within the domain (including multiplicities).



The Attempt at a Solution



i tried breaking e^iz - z^2n - a into two functions f and g, and showing that one is greater than the other along the upper part of a closed half-circle of radius r around the origin (i.e, [-r,r] + {z: |z|= r, z>0}).

for any z with Imz >= 0 (in the upper half of the plane),

|e^iz| = e^-Imz <= 1.

Along the contour, |z^2n|<= r^2n

and |a|>1.

I tried using the triangle inequality (||a|-|b|| <= | a+b | <= |a|+|b| ) with the three possible combinations of functions:

1. e^iz - z^2n ; a

2. e^iz ; - z^2n - a

3. e^iz - a ; - z^2n

yet I did not succeed in finding a combination such that one function would always be larger than the other along the chosen contour.

Except, if r^2n < a-1 then we can use combination 1 and get that | e^iz - z^2n | < 1+a-1=a, so e^iz - z^2n - a has the same number of zeros as a (none). But that only helps for a tiny part of the upper plane.

Then I tried finding a contour that was sort of a "half ring" (with "?"< r_1<r_2) over which I could evaluate the functions (of course, r_2 can technically be as big as we like, so that takes care of {z: Imz > 0}\{z: |z|<=r_1}, but that didn't seem to work either (even supposing I could prove that there are no zeros in |z|<=r_1).

I thought I could somehow make use of the fact that - z^2n - a has no zeros along the real line.

I also thought that maybe I should use a different shaped contour (like a rectangular contour), but I can't really see how that would help. Or I could try to use a circle of radius r (which can be as big as we want) around the origin, and somehow show that all the zeros are in the upper half of the plane. Though it doesn't really make sense to do that, because then you lose the bound on e^iz.

I also thought that the half-circle contour reminded me of how we learned how to use the residue theorem to calculate improper integrals of real functions (from -infty to infty) by integrating along half-circles of as large a radius as we wish and taking the limit as r goes to infinity, but aside from the similar outer appearance of the contours, I can't see how that would be applicable in this case.

Additional things we know that could be useful:

- z^2n - a has 2n zeros along |z|=a^1/2n. Because of the symmetry of the roots, half of them (n) are in the upper half of the plane.

e^iz - a has no zeros.

I would appreciate any ideas! I feel the answer is sitting right in front of me and just not "clicking".

Thanks!
 
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  • #2
oh, never mind. Looking over it again in the morning, the solution just popped out and I realized how simple it is. Amazing what a night of sleep does.
 

FAQ: Complex analysis - Rouche's theorem

What is Complex Analysis?

Complex analysis is a branch of mathematics that deals with the study of functions of complex numbers. It involves the analysis of functions, limits, derivatives, and integrals of complex numbers.

What is Rouche's Theorem?

Rouche's theorem is a fundamental theorem in complex analysis that provides a powerful tool for determining the number of zeros of a complex polynomial within a given region. It states that if two complex polynomials have the same number of zeros inside a closed curve, then they have the same number of zeros in the region enclosed by that curve.

How is Rouche's Theorem applied?

Rouche's theorem is applied to determine the number of zeros of a complex polynomial within a given region. To use this theorem, we need to find two polynomials that have the same number of zeros inside the region of interest. Then, we can compare the two polynomials to see if they have the same number of zeros in the region enclosed by a closed curve.

What are the limitations of Rouche's Theorem?

One limitation of Rouche's theorem is that it only applies to polynomials. It cannot be used to determine the number of zeros of transcendental functions such as trigonometric or exponential functions. Additionally, this theorem only gives information about the number of zeros of a function, not their exact locations.

How is Rouche's Theorem related to the Argument Principle?

The Argument Principle is a corollary of Rouche's theorem. It states that the number of zeros of a complex function in a region is equal to the difference between the number of poles and the number of zeros of the function inside that region. This principle is a powerful tool for analyzing the behavior of complex functions, especially in the context of contour integrals.

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