Laurent Series Complex Analysis question

In summary, the homework statement is that for f(z) = 1/(1+z^2) a taylor series centered at the origin and the radius of convergence can be found, while for b) the laurent series for the annulus centred at the origin with inner radius given by the r.o.c. from part a) can be found.
  • #1
nugget
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1. Homework Statement

For f(z) = 1/(1+z^2)

a) find the taylor series centred at the origin and the radius of convergence.

b)find the laurent series for the annulus centred at the origin with inner radius given by the r.o.c. from part a), and an arbitrarily large outer radius.

2. Homework Equations

for a) (sum from j = 0 to infinity)

f(z) = Σ [(fj(0))÷(j!)] × zj

for b) laurent series formula?


3. The Attempt at a Solution

I'm fairly confident that the answer is f(z) = ([itex]\frac{1}{2}[/itex])0[itex]\sum[/itex][itex]\infty[/itex] ((zj) + (-z)j)/(ij)

(sum from j=0 to infinity)

But don't understand how to calculate laurent series... I think I need to do it for the annulus centered at the origin with radius 1, and then again for the annulus centered at the origin but with arbitrarily large outer radius and inner radius of 1... or possibly just for the latter.

Do I need to change the format of this sum? split it into two parts? take out the first few terms? any ideas would be great!
 
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  • #2
[tex] \frac{1}{1+z^2}= \frac{1}{(1+z)(1-z)}[/tex]

so it has poles of order 1 at z=i & z=-i, thus the taylor series about z=0 will be convergent for |z|<1

you can also find a laurent series, that will be convergent on the annulus |z|>1

for a) finding the derivatives to find the taylor series is valid, however a quicker way would be to use partial fractions and consider geometric series

similarly for b) use the partial fraction expansion to find the laurent series, taking a factor of 1/z outside the partial fraction, and using geometric.

see example 38.2 here for a good summary on how it works
http://math.furman.edu/~dcs/courses/math39/lectures/lecture-38.pdf
 
  • #3
Hey thanks for the advice!

I was already pretty happy with part (a)

the result looks quite similar for part b)

are you able to tell me if i should end up with this? :

(1/2i)*(j=0[itex]\sum[/itex][itex]\infty[/itex] [(i^j) - ((-i)^j)]/(z^j+1)

I feel good about using the example you gave but would love to know for sure that what I've done is correct.

also what am I doing wrong with the symbols on this site... I can't see them but maybe it's this pc... does that look like it should to you?
 
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  • #4
with the symbols try putting one set of tex tags around the whole equation
- for fractions use \frac{}{}
- for exponents longer than one character enclose with curly brackets eg z^{j+1}
- right click on equations to see the source
 
  • #5
Just to echo lanedance--clever applications of the geometric series are usually much easier than actually calculating the derivatives. Basically, the inequality describing the region will tell you what expression in z is less than 1, making it a prime candidate for a geometric series expansion. So for part b), [itex] 1<|z|[/itex] means [itex] \left|\frac{1}{z}\right| <1 [/itex], so [itex]\left|\frac{1}{z^2}\right| < 1[/itex]. Does that suggest anything to you?

Using geometric series also gives you neater answers. I'm pretty sure your answer for part a) is right because for odd j the two terms in the numerator cancel and for even j the numerator becomes [itex] 2 z^j [/itex] and then the 2 cancels with the 1/2 outside the sum. So can you see how to simplify your answer for part a)? You should get the same thing you'd get by using the geometric series.
 
  • #6
Hey thanks for the help guys, I see what you mean, much neater!

cheers
 

FAQ: Laurent Series Complex Analysis question

1. What is a Laurent series?

A Laurent series is a type of mathematical series that is used to represent functions that are analytic in an annulus, which is a region between two concentric circles. It is similar to a Taylor series, but it includes both positive and negative powers of the variable, allowing it to represent functions with poles or essential singularities.

2. How is a Laurent series different from a Taylor series?

A Taylor series only includes positive powers of the variable, while a Laurent series includes both positive and negative powers. This allows a Laurent series to represent functions with singularities, while a Taylor series can only represent analytic functions. Additionally, a Laurent series has two separate regions of convergence, while a Taylor series only has one.

3. How do you find the coefficients of a Laurent series?

The coefficients of a Laurent series can be found by using the formula cn = 1/(2πi) ∮f(z)(z-a)-n-1dz, where f(z) is the given function, a is the center of the series, and the integral is taken over a closed curve that encircles the annulus on which the series is defined. This integral can often be evaluated using the residue theorem.

4. Can a Laurent series have an infinite number of terms?

Yes, a Laurent series can have an infinite number of terms, just like a Taylor series. However, the region of convergence for a Laurent series is typically smaller than that of a Taylor series, meaning that more terms may be needed to accurately represent the function within the annulus.

5. What are the applications of Laurent series in complex analysis?

Laurent series are used in complex analysis to represent functions with singularities, such as poles or essential singularities. They are also used in calculating complex integrals and residues, as well as in the study of meromorphic functions and their properties. Additionally, Laurent series have applications in other areas of mathematics, such as number theory and combinatorics.

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