# Math Help - Complex Analysis, harmonic functions

1. ## Complex Analysis, harmonic functions

Here is the problem:

If f= u+ iv is analytic in a region, show that uv is harmonic in the region but that u^2 need not be harmonic.

Thanks

2. Originally Posted by taypez
Here is the problem:

If f= u+ iv is analytic in a region, show that uv is harmonic in the region but that u^2 need not be harmonic.

Thanks
$f(x+iy)=u+iv$
The function is analyic, hence homolorphic.
It satisfies the Cauchy-Riemann Equations.
$u_x=v_y$
$u_y=-v_x$
Thus,
$u_xv_x+u_yv_y=0$

We need to show,
$uv$
Solves the PDE,
$f_{xx}+f_{yy}=0$.

Now,
$(uv)_{xx}=(u_xv+uv_x)_x=u_{xx}v+2u_xv_x+uv_{xx}$
$(uv)_{yy}=u_{yy}v+2u_yv_y+uv_{yy}$
Add them,
$(uv)_{xx}+(uv)_{yy}=u_{xx}v+2(u_xv_x+u_yv_y)+uv_{y y}$
But from Cauchy-Riemann Equations,
$(uv)_{xx}+(uv)_{yy}=u_{xx}v+uv_{yy}$
Maybe there is some theorem that tell the right hand side is zero. I do not know of one.

3. The function is analyic, hence both u and v are harmonic.
It satisfies the Cauchy-Riemann Equations.
$u_x=v_y$ & $u_y=-v_x$
Now,
$(uv)_{xx}=(u_xv+uv_x)_x=u_{xx}v+2u_xv_x+uv_{xx}$
$(uv)_{yy}=u_{yy}v+2u_yv_y+uv_{yy}$
Add them,
$(uv)_{xx}+(uv)_{yy}=2(u_xv_x+u_yv_y)$ because
$u_{xx}+ u_{yy}=0$ & $v_{xx}+ v_{yy}=0.$

But $u_x v_x + u_y v_y = u_x \left( { - u_y } \right) + u_y \left( { u_x } \right) = 0$

4. Originally Posted by Plato
The function is analyic, hence both u and v are harmonic.
Slow down, I did not get that. You are saying that if a complex function is analytic (meaning it has a power series expansion, right?) then it must be harmonic, (satisfy the Laplace equation). So that was the extra equation you used to complete the proof?

5. Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker
a complex function is analytic (meaning it has a power series expansion, right?) then it must be harmonic, (satisfy the Laplace equation).
For the complex analyst the definition is: a function $f$ said to be analytic at $z_0$ if its derivative exists at each point in some neighborhood of $z_0$.

Moreover, a function $u$ is said to be harmonic if $u_{xx} + u_{yy} = 0$, that is the Laplace equation as you have noted.

Theorem: If $f(z) = u(x,y) + iv(x,y)$ is analytic is the domain $D$, then both $u(x,y)$ and $v(x,y)$ are harmonic in $D$.