Chapter 13

Complex Numbers and Functions

Lecture No. 6
 Harmonic Functions

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Complex Variables and Transforms BSI-362
Harmonic Functions
Laplace Differential Equation
Let u ( x, y ) be real valued function if u xx  u yy  0 then it is called
the Laplace differential equation. We can write
 2
 2
 2u (x, y)  ( 2  )u (x, y)
x y 2
where
 2
 2
2  
x 2
y 2
is called the Laplacian operator. The symbol  2 read “nabla squared”.

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Complex Variables and Transforms BSI-362
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Harmonic Function
A real valued function u ( x, y ) is said to be harmonic function in
domain D. If for all x, y in D all second order partial derivatives exists
are continuous and satisfy the Laplace equation u xx  u yy  0 .
Theorem
If f ( z )  u ( x, y )  iv ( x, y ) is analytic function in domain D. The
function u ( x, y ) and v( x, y ) are harmonic functions.

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Harmonic Conjugate of Function
Let u ( x, y ) and v( x, y ) are harmonic functions in a domain D such
that
f ( z )  u ( x, y )  iv ( x, y )

is analytic function in D. Then v( x, y ) is said to be harmonic conjugate

of u ( x, y ).

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Complex Variables and Transforms BSI-362
Harmonic Functions
Chapter 13 Review Questions and Problems
36-39 Are the following functions harmonic? If so, find the harmonic
conjugate
37. xy
Solution Let u ( x, y )  xy
u u  2u  2u
  y,  x,  0, 0
x y x 2
y 2

 2u  2u
  00  0
x 2
y 2

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Complex Variables and Transforms BSI-362
Harmonic Functions
Therefore u ( x, y )  xy is harmonic function. Hence because of the
Cauchy- Riemann equation a conjugate v( x, y ) of u ( x, y )  xy must
satisfy
u v
 y ,
x y
u v
x
y x
v
Integrating y  y
y2
with respect to y we get v  h(x)
2
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Complex Variables and Transforms BSI-362
Harmonic Functions
Differentiating v  y 2  h(x)
2
v
with respect to x we get vx   0  h(x)  h(x)
x
But
v
 x
x
Therefore
h(x)   x
x2
Integrating with respect to x we get h(x)   c
2
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Complex Variables and Transforms BSI-362
Harmonic Functions
Putting value of h(x) in equation
y2
v  h(x)
2
Therefore harmonic conjugate of given function u ( x, y )  xy is
y2 x2
v ( x, y )    c.
2 2
The corresponding analytic function is
y2 x2
f (z)  u ( x, y )  iv ( x, y )  xy  i (   c ).
2 2

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x
38. 2
1
e cos y
2

39. x2  y 2

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Laplace equation in Polar coordinates
We know that Cauchy- Riemann equation is polar coordinates are
u 1 v
 (10)
r r 
1 u v
 (11)
r  r
Differentiating equation (10) with respect to r and equation (11) with
respect to  we get

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So,  2u  1 v 1  2v 1 v
 ( )  2 (12)
r 2
r r  r r  r 
 2v  1 u 1  2u
 ( ) (13)
r   r  r  2

1
Multiplying equation(13) by adding with equation(12) we get
r
1  2v  2u 1  2u 1  2 v 1 v
  2   2
r r  r 2
r  2
r r  r 
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or,
 2u 1  2u 1 v 1  2u 1 1 v
  2  2  2  ( )
r 2
r  2
r  r  2
r r 
1  2u 1 u 1 v u
 2  (  ) CRE
r  2
r r r  r
 2u 1  2u 1 u
  2  0
r 2
r  2
r r
which is the Laplace equation in polar coordinates.
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Example
Prove that u (r ,  )  r cos n is harmonic function and find v( r ,  )
n

and the function f (z).

Solution Given u (r ,  )  r n cos n
u u
  nr cos n ,
n 1
  nr n sin n ,
r 
 2u  2
u
 n ( n  1) r n2
cos n ,   n r cos n
2 n

r 2
 2

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Complex Variables and Transforms BSI-362
 Harmonic Functions
We know that Laplace equation in polar form is
 2u 1  2u 1 u
 2  0
r 2
r  2
r r
 2u 1  2u 1 u
L.H .S   2 
r 2
r  2
r r
1 1
 n( n  1) r n2
cos n  2 (  n r cos n )  ( nr n 1 cos n )
2 n

r r
 n 2 r n  2 cos n  nr n  2 cos n  n 2 r n  2 cos n  nr n  2 cos n
 0  R.H .S
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Harmonic Functions
Therefore u (r ,  )  r n cos n is harmonic function. Now we calculate
v ( r ,  ).
Because of the Cauchy- Riemann equations a conjugate v( r ,  ) of
u ( r ,  ) must satisfy
u 1 v
 (10)
r r 
1 u v
 (11)
r  r

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Harmonic Functions
So,
u 1 v
 nr cos n 
n 1
, and
r r 
v 1 u 1
  ( nr n sinn  )  nr n 1 sin n
r r  r
Therefor,
1 v v
  nr cos n , 
n 1
 nr n cos n , and
r  
v
 nr n 1 sin n
r
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Harmonic Functions
Integrating equation v  nr n cos n

With respect to  we get v(r ,  )  r n sin n  g (r)
Differentiating with respect to r we get

v ( r ,  )  nr n 1 sin n  g (r)
r
But by Cauchy-Riemann equation
1 u v
 (11)
r  r
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Complex Variables and Transforms BSI-362
Harmonic Functions
By equation we get
nr n 1 sin n  nr n 1 sin n  g (r)
 g (r)  0
 g (r)  c
Therefore
v( r ,  )  r n sin n  g (r)  r n sin n  c
Which is harmonic conjugate of u(r ,  ). Hence
f (z)  u ( r ,  )  iv ( r ,  )  r n cos n  i ( r n sin n  c).

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