Holomorphic function and an open disc

In summary, the conversation discusses the holomorphic function f in an open disc U where Re(f) is constant. The goal is to prove that f must also be constant in U. The key properties of U that are used are its openness and connectedness. An example of an open set U where the conclusion fails is a disconnected set, such as the union of two disjoint open balls. It is also mentioned that if a function is locally constant on U, it must be constant on the connected component of U, making it a useful exercise in complex analysis and differential geometry.
  • #1
Stephen88
61
0
Now the function f is holomorphic in an open disc U and that Re( f ) is
constant in U. I'm trying to show that
1)f must be constant in U.
2) the essential property of the disc U that it used here
3) an example of an open set U for which the conclusion fails.

Let f=u+vi where u is a constant.Since f is holomorphic by the Cauchy–Riemann equations->
u_x=v_y and u_y=-v_x but since u is a constant u_x=u_y=0 => 0=v_y =-v_x...therefore f is constant.
The disc U has to be open,as in:U(a,r)={z:|z-a|<r}.
Is this correct?What should I do for the last part?
Thank you
 
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  • #2
Note that your proof of 1) actually uses the fact that the disc is connected as well as the fact that it is open.

$U$ open implies that given $p\in U$ we must have $\varepsilon > 0$ such that $B_{\varepsilon} (p) \subseteq U$. But $B_{\varepsilon} (p)$ is convex , thus $v(x) - v(p) = \bigtriangledown v (c) \cdot (x-p) = 0$ for some $c\in B_{\varepsilon} (p)$ (*) and so $v(x) = v(p)$ for all $x\in B_{\varepsilon} (p)$. Thus $u$ is locally constant, and each set $v^{-1}\left(\{a\}\right)$ is open for $a\in \mathbb{R}$, so if $U$ were connected, $v$ can take only one value (because otherwise our connected set would be the union of 2 or more disjoint non-empty open sets, which is a contradiction).

So if you want to solve (3) look at a disconnected set (for instance, the union of 2 disjoint open balls).

Here: $B_{\varepsilon}(p) := \{z \in \mathbb{C} : |z-p| < \varepsilon\}$

(*) Mean value theorem for the function $g(t) = v\left(p\cdot (1-t) + x\cdot t\right) $ , $g: [0,1] \to \mathbb{R}$. This makes sense since we are working on the convex set $B_{\varepsilon} (p)$.
 
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  • #3
I want to add something to what PaulRS said.

Paul showed that f must be locally-constant. Here is a generalization of his statement.

Here is a purely topological exercise. Show that if f is locally constant on U then it must mean that f is constant on the connected component of U. In particular if U is connected then f is constant on U.
 
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  • #4
ThePerfectHacker said:
I want to add something to what PaulRS said.

Paul showed that f must be locally-constant. Here is a generalization of his statement.

Here is a purely topological exercise. Show that if f is locally constant on U then it must mean that f is constant on the connected component of U. In particular if U is connected then f is constant on U.
This is a good exercise because of how often it shows up in things like complex analysis/differential geometry. A similar exercise which is much simpler, but actually comes up even more than the exercise TPH suggested is the trivial matter that continuous maps from connected spaces to discrete spaces are constant. Useful for proving that different branches of the logarithm differ from each other by a constant multiple of $2\pi i$.
 
  • #5
for your response.

1) Yes, your explanation for why f must be constant in U is correct. Since the real part of f is constant in U, it follows that the imaginary part of f must also be constant, and therefore f itself is constant in U.

2) The essential property of the disc U that is used here is its openness. This means that every point in U has a neighborhood contained within U. This is important because it allows us to use the Cauchy-Riemann equations, which require the function to be differentiable at every point in U.

3) An example of an open set U for which the conclusion fails is the unit circle, defined as U={z:|z|=1}. In this case, the function f(z)=iz is holomorphic in U and has a constant real part (Re(f) = 0), but it is not constant in U. This is because the unit circle is not an open set, as it does not contain any points in its interior. Therefore, the Cauchy-Riemann equations cannot be applied.
 

FAQ: Holomorphic function and an open disc

What is a holomorphic function?

A holomorphic function is a complex-valued function that is differentiable at every point within its domain. This means that it has a well-defined derivative at each point, which is a complex number.

What is an open disc?

An open disc is a set of points on a complex plane that lie within a certain distance (radius) from a specific point (center). The points on the boundary of the disc are not included in the set.

What is the relationship between a holomorphic function and an open disc?

A holomorphic function is said to be analytic on an open disc if it is differentiable at every point within the disc. This means that the function can be represented as a power series expansion within the disc.

What is the Cauchy Integral Formula for holomorphic functions?

The Cauchy Integral Formula states that for a holomorphic function f(z) and a simple closed curve C, the integral of f(z) over C is equal to 2πi times the sum of the residues of f(z) at the poles enclosed by C. This formula is fundamental in complex analysis and has many applications.

How are holomorphic functions useful in mathematics and science?

Holomorphic functions have many applications in mathematics and science, particularly in complex analysis, number theory, and physics. They are used to solve problems and make predictions in various fields, such as fluid dynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics.

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