Complex Variables 2.

5 Harmonic Functions
For a given REAL function (in a domain) (x,y)
can we propose an ANALYTIC f(z) = u(x,y) + i v(x,y)
How to find v(x,y)?

such u(x,y) = (x,y) ?

In converse:
For a given REAL function (x,y)
can we propose an ANALYTIC f(z) = u(x,y) + i v(x,y)
How to find u(x,y)?
Consider f(z) = u(x,y) + i v(x,y)

If we can (suppose):

and

2u
v

2
x
x y

2
v u

y 2
y x

u v

x y
v
u

y
x

If the second partial derivatives are continuous:

So:

2u
2u
2u 2u
2 2 2 0
x 2
y
x
y

and

such v(x,y) = (x,y) ?

.
CRE

x y y x

2v 2v

0
x 2 y 2

Complex Variables
THUS --- they must both satisfy LAPLACES EQUATION:
2 2

0
x 2 y 2

Pierre-Simon Laplace

DEFINITION (Harmonic Function) Functions satisfying LAPLACES EQUATION in a

domain are said to be Harmonic in the domain.
EXAMPLE

A function (x,y) = x2 - y2 is harmonic in the z-plane:

2
2;
x 2

2
2.
y 2

THEOREM 6 If a function is analytic in some domain, its real and imaginary

parts are harmonic in that domain.
CONVERSE:
THEOREM 7 Given a real function (x,y) which is harmonic in a simply connected
domain D, there exists in D an analytic function whose real part equals (x,y) . There
also exists in D an analytic function whose imaginary part is (x,y) .

(x, y) + iv(x, y)

and u(x, y) + i(x, y)

Complex Variables
EXAMPLE 1 Show that = x3 - 3xy2 + 2y can be the real part of an analytic function.
Find the imaginary part of the analytic function.
Solution:

2
2
6 x;
6 x the function
x 2
y 2
u ( x,y) x, y

Using CRE we have:

is harmonic throughout the z plane

v
u
3x 2 3 y 2

x
y
u
v

6 xy 2

x
y

3x
y

Now integrate: v( x, y )

3~
y 2 d~
y 3x 2 y y 3 g x

v
6 xy 2 6 xy g ' x g ( x) 2 x C
x
v ( x, y ) 3 x 2 y y 3 2 x C
To find C we need more conditions.
3

Complex Variables
DEFINITION (Harmonic Conjugate) Given a harmonic function u(x, y), we call v(x, y),
the harmonic conjugate of u(x, y), if f(z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y) is analytic.
In Example 1: v( x, y) 3x 2 y y 3 2 x C is the HC of u( x, y) x 3 3xy 2 2 y : f(z)- analytic
BUT! v( x, y) x 3 3xy 2 2 y is NOT the HC of u( x, y) 3x 2 y y 3 2 x C
analytic.

: f(z) - is NOT

FAMILIES of CURVES for conjugate functions:

Complex Variables
THEOREM 8 Let f(z) = u(x, y) + iv(x,y) be an analytic function and C1, C2, C3, . . . and
K1, K2, K3, . . . be real constants. Then the family of curves in the xy-plane along which
u = C1, u = C2, etc., is orthogonal to the family given by v = K1, v = K2,...; that is, the
intersection of a member of one family with that of another takes place at a 90 angle,
except possibly at any point where f(z) = 0.
PROOF Consider the intersection of the curves u(x,y) = C1 (du=0) and v(x,y) = K1
(dv=0) at (x1,y1)

u
u
dy
du 0
dx
dy
x
y
dx
v
v
dy
dv 0 dx dy
x
y
dx

u C1

x1 , y1

u x

x1 , y1

x1 , y1

v x

v y x1 , y1

(*) - the slope of the curve u(x,y) = C1

v K1

(**) - the slope of the curve v(x,y) = K1

5

Complex Variables
u v

x y
v
u

y
x

Now we recall the CRE

Which leads in (**) to

dy
dx

So, at the intersection

dy
dx

v K1
x1 , y1

v K1
x1 , y1

v K1

u y

u x x1 , y1

dy u C1

dx
x1 , y1

-/2

1
tan tan
2

Hence, the intersection takes place at a 90 angle. When f(z) = 0 the slops can not be
found.
EXAMPLE 2 Consider

f z

1
2
Log z i arg z; arg z
2

Show that this function satisfies the Cauchy-Riemann equations in any domain not
containing the origin and/or points on the negative real axis (where arg z is
discontinuous)
Solution: We have:

u x, y

1
2
Log z
2

and vx, y arg z; arg z

Complex Variables
So:

With that (CRE):

u x, y

1
Log x 2 y 2
2

and

vx, y arg z tan1 y x ; when y 0

1
vx, y arg z cot x y ; when x 0
u
x
v
u
y
v
2

x x y 2 y
y x 2 y 2
x

Loci along which u is constant are merely the CICLES (x2 + y2 = const)
Loci along which v is constant are merely the RAYS ( = const)
The orthogonality is obvious.