BITS Pilani

Pilani Campus

MATH F112 (Mathematics-II)

Complex Analysis

Lecture 26
Harmonic Functions
BITS Pilani
Pilani Campus

Dr Trilok Mathur,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Mathematics

A real valued function u ( x,y ) is said to be

harmonic in a given domain D if

(i) u x , u xx ,u y & u yy exist & they are continuousin D,

(ii ) u satisfiesLaplace eqution
u u xx u yy 0
2

Example : u ( x, y ) 3x y y 2
is harmonic in the complex plane.
2

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Theorem 1:
If f ( z ) u ( x,y ) i v ( x,y ) is analytic in a domain
D, then u & v are harmonic in D

Remark: Is converse true ?

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Let u and v be two harmonic functions in a

domain D and satisfiesCR equations

u x v y , u y vx .....(1)
throughout in D ...
Then v is saidbe HarmonicConjugate of u.

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Remark1:
v is a harmonic conjugate of u

u is a harmonic conjugate of v.
For, if u is a harmonic conjugate of v,
then vx u y & v y u x , which is not sameas (1)

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Remark 2 :
v is a harmonic conjugate of u
u is a harmonic conjugate of - v

as - vx u y , v y u x
i.e. u x v y & u y vx
which is sameas (1)
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Theorem 2 :
A function f ( z ) u ( x,y ) i v ( x,y )
is analytic in a domain D iff
v is a harmonic conjugate of u.

Ex. f ( z ) z .
2

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Ex. Find all the points where the function

f ( x) 2 xy i( x y ) is analytic.
2

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Page 78, Q.7

Let f ( z ) be analytic in a domain D.
Prove that f ( z ) must be constant in D
if
(a ) f ( z ) is real valued z in D.
(b) f ( z ) is analytic in D.
(c )

f ( z ) is constant in D.
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Solution :
Since f ( z ) is analytic in a domain D.
u x v y , u y v x
(1)
and
f ( z ) u x i vx

(2)

(a) Given f ( z) is a real valued function z D

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 f ( z ) u ( x,y ) i v ( x,y ) ,
where
v( x,y ) 0
( x,y ) D.

vx 0, v y 0
u x v y , u y v x
u x ( x, y ) 0 u y ( x, y ) ( x, y ) D
(2) f ( z ) 0, z D
f ( z ) constant z D.
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Ex. Consider the function

f(z) = u(x, y) + i v(x, y) in a domain D,
where
v is a harmonic conjugate of u and
u is also a harmonic conjugate of v.
Then show that f (z) is constant
throughout in D.
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Q.10 Show that u is harmonic & find a

harmonic conjugate v when
(a) u( x, y ) 2 x (1 - y )

u x 2(1 y ), u xx 0
u y 2 x, u yy 0

u xx u yy 0
u is harmonic.
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 v is a harmonicconjugate of u
CR Equations are satisfied
i.e. u x v y , u y vx

Then
v y u x 2(1 y)
2
v 2 y y ( x)
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 vx ( x) u y 2 x

( x ) 2 x
( x) x c
2

v 2 y y x c
2

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(b) u( x, y) sinh x sin y

u x cosh x sin y,
u xx sinh x sin y,

u y sinh x cos y,
u yy sinh x sin y

u xx u yy 0
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Let v be a harmonic conjugate of u

u x v y , u y v x

v y cosh x sin y
v cosh x cos y ( x)

vx sinh x cos y ( x)
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 v x sinh x cos y ( x)
But v x u y sinh x cos y
( x) 0
( x) c
v cosh x cos y c

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Show that if v and V are harmonic

conjugates of u in a domain D, then

v(x, y) and V(x, y) can differ at most

by an additive constant.

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x
Q. If u ( x, y ) 2
,
find
a
2
x y
harmonic conjugate v of u.

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22
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