Mathematical Physics II Department of Physics

Assignment 5 Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

PH402 21/03/2024

1. (a) Let F (z) be analytic in a region R and suppose that F (z) = 0 at all points on an arc P Q
inside R. Prove that F (z) = 0 throughout R.
(b) Conclude from the above that if F1 (z) and F2 (z) are analytic in a region R and F1 (z) =
F2 (z) at all points on an arc P Q inside R. Prove that F (z) = 0 throughout R. Prove that
F1 (z) = F2 (z) in R.
(c) Given the identity sin2 z + cos2 z = 1 holds for real values of z, prove that it also holds for
all complex values of z.
2. (a) Prove that the function defined by F1 (z) = z − z 2 + z 3 − z 4 + · · · is analytic in the region
|z| < 1.
(b) Find a function which represents all possible analytic continuations of F1 (z).
R∞
3. The function f1 (z) = 0 e−zt dt exists only if Re(z) > 0, in which case f1 (z) = 1/z. Its region
of definition is simply the right half z-plane. What will be the analytic continuation of it in
the region |z + i| < 1?
4. Show that the conformal mapping w = z1 maps straight lines in z-plane into circles in the
w-plane. A circle in the z-plane is mapped onto another circle in the w-plane.
5. If w = f (z) = u + iv is analytic in a region R, prove that

∂(u, v)
= |f ′ (z)|2 .
∂(x, y)

6. Prove that function x2 − y 2 + 2y is harmonic in any finite region R on the z-plane. Show also
that the function remains harmonic in the w-plane under the transformation z = w3 .
7. Prove that
∂2Φ ∂2Φ ∂2Φ ∂2Φ
   
′ 2
+ = |f (z)| + ,
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂u2 ∂v 2

where w = f (z) is analytic and f ′ (z) ̸= 0.

8. Let the rectangular region R in the z-plane be bounded by x = 0, y = 0, x = 2, y = 1. Deter-
mine the region R′ in the w-plane into which R is mapped under the following transformations:
√ √
(i) w = z + (1 − 2i) (ii) w = 2eiπ/4 z, (iii) w = 2eiπ/4 z + (1 − 2i).

Calculate the Jacobian of the transformation for (c) and comment on the result.
9. Find a Möbius transformation which maps points z = 0, −i, 1 into w = i, 1, 0 respectively.
10. Consider the complex z-plane where a semi-circle of radius 1 unit, centered around (0, 0) is
removed. Find out the region in the complex w-plane where the above points from the z-plane
with semicircle removed are mapped onto.
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R∞
11. The gamma function arose out of Euler integral of the second kind: 0 dttn−1 e−t = (n − 1)!,
where n is positive integer. Similarly the Euler integral of first kind is defined as
Z 1
B(m, n) = dt tm−1 (1 − t)n−1
0

where m and n are positive integers. In the same manner, as in Gamma function, we can
replace the integers by complex variables z and w without affecting the convergence of the
integral, provided the real parts of z and w are positive. This yields the Beta function:
Z 1
B(z, w) = dt tz−1 (1 − t)w−1 , Re z > 0, Re w > 0
0

B(z, w) is an analytic function of its arguments in the region indicated. A change of variable
from t to 1 − t shows that beta function enjoys the symmetry property: B(z, w) = B(w, z).
As in the case of Gamma function, we can try to extend the region of analyticity to the left in
the z-plane by integration by parts with respect to t. But a problem arises now. Although the
integration of the factor tz−1 improves matter in the z-plane, it also worsens the situation in
the w-plane, because the factor (1 − t)w−1 gets differentiated and leads to the factor (1 − t)w−2 .
The resulting integral converges in the region Re z > −1 and Re w > 1. The opposite happens
if we integrate the factor ((1 − t)w−1 and differentiate tz−1 . Integration by parts can not extend
the region of analyticity in both z and w-plane simultaneously. The region of analyticity can
be exteded by a different trick (will be discussed later in class). In this problem, you are asked
to find out a relation between the beta and the gamma functions.

12. (a) If z0 is in the upper half of the z-plane, show that the Möbius transformation
 
iθ0 z − z0
w=e
z − z̄0

maps the upper half of the z-plane into the interior of the unit circle in the w-plane, i.e.
w ≤ 1.
(b) Find a Möbius transformation which maps the upper half of the z-plane into the unit circle
in the w-plane in such a way that z = i is mapped to w = 0 while the point at infinity is
mapped into w = −1.

13. If a is real, show that the real and imaginary parts of w = ln(z − a) are harmonic functions in
any region R not containing z = a.

14. Find a function harmonic in the upper half of the z-plane, Im(z) > 0, which takes the prescribed
values on the x-axis given by
(
1 , x>0
G(x) = .
0 , x<0

15. Find a function harmonic inside the unit circle |z| = 1 and taking the prescribed values given
by
(
1 , 0<θ<π
F (θ) = .
0 , π < θ < 2π
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on its circumference.

16. Consider two infinite cylindrical conductors of equal radius r, held at potentials U1 and U2
respectively, whose centers are D units apart. Choose the x-axis and the y-axis such that the
centers of the cylinders are located on the x-axis at a distance a1 and a2 from the origin. Find
the electrostatic potential produced by such a configuration in the xy-plane.

17. Two coaxial infinite cylinders of radii ρ1 and ρ2 (ρ1 < ρ2 ) are maintained at potentials U1 and
U2 respectively. Find the electrostatic potential at any point between the two cylinders.