Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic

Functions

Dr. P. Vijay Kumar

Assistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics

February 11, 2021

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Why Complex variables?
In real number system we have seen that there does not exist any
real number whose square is a negative real number. Thus the
squareroot of negative real number is not a valid operation in R and
hence an equation of the form x2 + 1 = 0 has no roots in R. Hence
to find the roots of such equations without real solutions led to the
introduction of complex number system defined on complex plane.
Applications
Some important applications:
Complex numbers provide the mathematical model for
amplitude and phase of sine waves and how they are modified.
Complex analysis can be quite useful in solving Laplace’s
equation in two dimensions.
Fluid dynamics.
Many other applications.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Introduction
Complex Variable
complex variable is denoted by z and it is defined as z = x + iy,
where x is called as real part and y is called as imaginary part.

z = reiθ is polar form of complex number.

If z = x + iy be any complex number, then |z| denotes the
absolute value of the complex number.
The angle θ is called as the argument or amplitude of the
complex numberz = x + iy

Figure
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Introduction
θ will have infinite number of values differing by multiples
of2π. The values of θ lying in the range −π < θ ≤ π is called
the principal value of argument.

If z1 , z2 denotes two complex numbers, then |z1 − z2 | denotes

the distance between the two complex numbers z1 , z2 .

Let S be a non-empty set of complex numbers. Let z0 S be any

complex number in S and δ be any positive real number, then

The set of points which satisfies |z − z0 | = δ defines a circle

C of radius δ with centre at z0 .

Any point z on this circle has the polar form z = z0 + δeiθ .

The set of points which satisfies |z − z0 | < δ defines an Open

disk of radius δ with centre at z0 .
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Introduction
The set of points which satisfies |z − z0 | ≤ δ defines an
closed disk of radius δ with centre at z0 .

The set of points which lie between two concentric circles

|z − z0 | = δ1 and |z − z0 | = δ2 defines an open annulus or
an open circular ring i, e. δ1 < |z − z0 | < δ2 .

δ1 ≤ |z − z0 | ≤ δ2 denotes the closed annulus or closed

circular ring.

An open circular disc of radius δ with centre z0 can be called

as the δ-neighbourhood of the point z0 .

If we exclude the point z0 from the open disk |z − z0 | < δ,

then we call it as a deleted neighbourhood of z0 and we
denote it by 0 < |z − z0 | < δ
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Functions of Complex variable
Let S and S ∗ be two non-empty sets of complex numbers. If there
is a rule f , which assigns a complex number w = u + iv in S ∗ for
each z = x + iy in S, then f is said to be a complex varaible
function and written as

w = f (z)

Figure

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Functions of Complex variable
If for every z belongs to D, there exists a unique image in the
w-plane , then the function f (z) is called as single-valued
function. For e.g f (z) = z.

If for every z belongs to D, there exists a more than one value

in the w-plane , then the function f (z) is called as
multiple-valued function. For e.g f (z) = z 1/n , n is a
positive integer.

For any two real valued function u and v in two varaibles x

and y, we can write w = u(x, y) + iv(x, y), which defines a
complex valued function.

If z = r(cos θ + i sin θ) = reiθ is taken in polar form, then the

real and imaginary parts of f (z) can be expressed as real
valued functions of real variables r and θ.
w = f (z) = f (reiθ ) = u(r, θ) + iv(r, θ).
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Limit and Continuity of complex variable function
Limit of a function of complex variable:
Let f (z) be a single valued function defined at all points in some
neighbourhood of a point z0 . As z approaches z0 in any direction,
f (z) should approach a unique value l, then the constant l is said
to be limit of a complex variable function f (z). It is denoted by

lim f (z) = l
z→z0

Figure
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Limit and Continuity of complex variable function

Continuity of a function of complex variable:

Let f (z) be a single valued function defined at all points in some
neighbourhood of a point z0 . Then f (z) is said to be continuous
at z0 , if
f (z0 ) exists,
lim f (z) exists and
z→z0
lim f (z) = f (z0 )
z→z0

If both f (z0 ) and lim f (z) = L exists, but f (z0 ) 6= L, then

z→z0
z0 is called as point of removable discontinuity.
the continuity of a complex variable function f (z) can be
discussed by studying the continuity of its real and imaginary
parts, that is the real functions u(x, y) and v(x, y)

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Limit and Continuity of complex variable function

Check whether the limit of the following functions exist or

not.
2
lim z
z→0 |z|
2
lim z 2
z→0 |z|
lim z̄
z→0 z
lim 11/x + iy 2
z→0 1−e

Examine the continuity of.

(
Im(z)
f (z) = |z| , z 6= 0
0, z=0
 −1/z 2
e , z 6= 0
f (z) =
0, z=0

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Differentiability of a complex variable function

Differentiability of a complex variable function:

Let f (z) be a single valued function defined at all points in some
neighbourhood of a point z0 . Then f (z) is said to be differentiable
at z0 , if lim f (z)−f
z−z0
(z0 )
exists. This limit is called derivative of
z→z0
f (z) at z = z0 and is denoted by f 0 (z0 ).

f (z) − f (z0 )
f 0 (z0 ) = lim
z→z0 z − z0
It can also be written as
f (z0 + ∆z) − f (z0 )
f 0 (z0 ) = lim
∆z→0 ∆z

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Differentiability of a complex variable function

Every polynomial function is differentiable everywhere in the

complex plane.
sin z and cos z are differentiable everywhere in the complex
plane.
The rules of differentiation of a function of real variable x
hold also for a function of complex variable z.

Example
(
x3 y(y−ix)
x6 +y 2
, 6 0,
z= df
If f (z) = then discuss dz at z = 0
0, z=0

Solution: If z → 0 along the path y = mx

 3 
x y(y−ix)
− 0 −ix3 y(x + iy)
 
f (z) − f (0) 6
x +y 2
lim = lim   = lim
z→0 z z→0 x + iy z→0 (x6 + y 2 ) (x + iy)

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Differentiability of a complex variable function

−ix3 y −ix3 (mx)

   
= lim 6 = lim 6
z→0 x + y 2 z→0 x + m2 x2

−imx2
 
= lim 4 =0
x→0 x + m2

But along y = x3

−ix3 x3


−ix3 y
 
f (z) − f (0) i
lim = lim 6 2
= lim 2 =−
z→0 z z→0 x + y 6 3
x→0 x + (x ) 2
df −i
In different paths we get different values of dz i.e. 0 and 2 . In such
a case, the function is not differentiable at z = 0

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Differentiability of a complex variable function

1 Discuss the differentiability of the following functions at the

indicated points
• f (z) = |z|2 at z = 0.
• f (z) = |z|2 at z 6= 0.
• f (z) = z̄ at z = 0.
x3 (1+i)−y 3 (1−i)
(
• f (z) = x2 +y 2
, 6 0,
z=
at z = 0.
0, z=0
2 Identify the points where the function f (z) = Ln z is not
differentiable.
3 Determine all the points where the following functions are
differentiable.
• z Im(z).
• z Re(z).
• z̄ 2 .
|z|
• i|z|2 .

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Analyticity of a complex variable function

Analytic function or Holomorphic function

A single valued function f (z) of a complex variable z is said to be
analytic at a point z0 , if it is differentiable at the point z0 and also
in some neighbourhood of z0 .

Analyticity at a point z0 means differentiability in some open

disk about z0 .
Analyticity in a domain D means anaytic at every point in D.
Analyticity =⇒ differentiability, but not vice versa.
A function f (z) which is analytic at every point of the finite
complex plane is called as an Entire function.
If f (z) and g(z) are analytic in a domain D, then
f (z) ± g(z), f (z)g(z) are also analytic in D. ff (z)
(z) is analytic
at all points z ∈ D for which g(z) 6= 0.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Necessary and Sufficient conditions for analyticity of a
complex variable function

Necessary conditions for analyticity of a complex variable function

The necessary conditions for a function f (z) = u + iv to be
analytic in a domain D are
(i) ∂u
∂x = ∂y
∂v
and (ii) ∂u ∂v
∂y = − ∂x
provided ∂u ∂u ∂v ∂v
∂x , ∂y , ∂x , ∂y exist.

The above equations ∂u ∂v

∂x = ∂y and ∂u
∂y
∂v
= − ∂x are called as
Cauchy-Reimann equations.
Sufficient conditions for analyticity of a complex variable function
The sufficient conditions for a function f (z) = u + iv to be
analytic in a domain D are
(i) ∂u
∂x = ∂y
∂v
and (ii) ∂u ∂v
∂y = − ∂x
provided ∂u ∂u ∂v ∂v
∂x , ∂y , ∂x , ∂y are continuous in D.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
contd..

Note:
If f (z) = u + iv is analytic in a domain D, then
f 0 (z) = ∂u ∂v 0 ∂v ∂u
∂x + i ∂x or f (z) = ∂y − i ∂y .
If a function is analytic in a domain D, then u, v satisfy C-R
equations at all points in D.
C-R equations are necessary for a function to be differentiable
at a point.
C-R equations are necessary but not sufficient for a function
to be analytic.
C-R equations are sufficient for a function to be analytic if
the first order partial derivatives of u and v are continuous.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
C-R equations in polar form and Examples on Analytic
function

Let f (z) = u(r, θ) + iv(r, θ), z = reiθ be an analytic function in

a domain D, then the Cauchy-Reimann equations in polar
coordinates is given by
∂u 1 ∂v ∂v 1 ∂u
= and =−
∂r r ∂θ ∂r r ∂θ

Examples on Analytic function

1
Example 1: Determine whether z is analytic or not?

Solution:
1 1 x − iy
Let w = f (z) = u + iv = ⇒ u + iv = = 2
z x + iy x + y2

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..
Equating real and imaginary parts, we get Thus,
x −y
u= 2 , v= 2
x + y2 x + y2
x2 + y 2 · 1 − x · 2x


∂u y 2 − x2 ∂u −2xy
= 2 = 2 , =
∂x (x2 + y 2 ) (x2 + y 2 ) ∂y (x2 + y 2 )2
∂v 2xy ∂v y 2 − x2
= 2 , =
∂x (x2 + y 2 ) ∂y (x2 + y 2 )2
∂u ∂v ∂u ∂v
= and =−
∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x
Thus C − R equations are satisfied. Also partial derivatives are
continuous except at (0,0) Therefore z1 is analytic everywhere except
at z = 0 Also
dw 1
=− 2
dz z
This again shows that dw dz exists everywhere except at z = 0. Hence
1
z is analytic everywhere except at z = 0
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..
Examples on Analytic function
Example 2: Show that the function ex (cos y + i sin y) is an
analytic function, find its derivative.

Solution: Let ex (cos y + i sin y) = u + iv So, ex cos y = u and

ex sin y = v then ∂u x
∂x = e cos y,
∂v x
∂y = e cos y

∂u ∂v
∂y = −ex sin y, ∂x = ex sin y
see that ∂u∂x =
∂v
∂y ,
∂u
∂y = − ∂x
∂v

Here we see that These are C − R equations and are satisfied and
the partial derivatives are continuous. Hence, ex (cos y + i sin y) is
analytic.
f (z) = u + iv = ex (cos y + i sin y) and ∂u x
∂x = e cos y,
∂v x
∂x = e sin y
0 ∂u ∂v
f (z) = ∂x + i ∂x = e cos y + ie sin y = e (cos y + i sin y) = ex · eiy =
x x x

Which is the required derivative.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..
Examples on Analytic function
Example 3: Find the values of C1 and C2 such
that the function
f (z) = x2 + C1 y 2 − 2xy + i C2 x2 − y 2 + 2xy is analytic. Also
find f 0 (z).

Solution: Let
f (z) = u + iv = x2 + C1 y 2 − 2xy + i C2 x2 − y 2 + 2xy

Equating real and imaginary parts, we get

u = x2 + C1 y 2 − 2xy and v = C2 x2 − y 2 + 2xy
∂u ∂v
∂x = 2x − 2y and ∂x = 2C2 x + 2y
∂u ∂v
∂y = 2C1 y − 2x and ∂y = −2y + 2x
C − R equations are
#
∂u ∂v
∂x = ∂y
∂u ∂v ⇒ 2x − 2y = −2y + 2x
∂y = − ∂x

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..

From (2) equating the coefficient of x and y

2C1 = −2 ⇒ C1 = −1
−2 = −2C2 ⇒ C2 = 1

Hence, C1 = −1 and C2 = 1 On putting the value of C2 , we

get
∂u ∂v
= 2x − 2y, = 2x + 2y
∂x ∂x
∂u ∂v
f 0 (z) = +i = (2x − 2y) + i(2x + 2y) = 2[(x + ix) + (−y + iy)]
∂x ∂x
= 2[(1 + i)x + i(1 + i)y] = 2(1 + i)(x + iy) = 2(1 + i)z

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..

Examples on Analytic function

Example 4: Show that an analytic function with constant real
part is always a constant function.

Solution: Let f (z) = u + iv be an analytic function such that real

part is constant.
=⇒ f (z) satisfies C-R equations, i,e. ux = vy and uy = −vx .
To prove that f (z) is a constant function.
Given that u = c1 , c1 is a constant
=⇒ ux = 0 and uy = 0
=⇒ vy = 0 and −vx = 0
=⇒ v(x, y) is independent of x and y. =⇒ v is constant.
=⇒ v = c2 , a constant
∴ f (z) = u + iv = c1 + ic2
∴ f (z) is a constant function.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..

Discuss the analyticity of the following functions.

1 f (z) = sin z.
2 f (z) = cos z.
3 f (z) = z n .
4 f (z) = x2 + iy 2 .
x−iy
5 f (z) = x2 +y 2
.
6 f (z) = z z̄ + z̄ 2 .

1 Show that for the function f (z) = |xy|1/2 , C-R equations are
satisfied at the origin. Does f 0 (0) exists?
2 using polar coordinates, show that the function f (z) = z −2 is
differentiable at any point z 6= 0.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Harmonic functions and Harmonic conjugate

Harmonic function
A real valued function u(x, y) of two variables x and y that has
continuous second order partial derivatives in a domain D and
satisfies the Laplace equation

∂2u ∂2u
+ 2 =0 =⇒ ∇2 u = 0
∂x2 ∂y
is said to be harmonic in D.

Cojugate harmonic function

If two harmonic functions u(x, y) and v(x, y) satisfy C-R equations
in a domain D and they are the real and imaginary parts of an
analytic function f (z) in D then v is said to be harmonic
conjugate function of u in D.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
contd..

Note:
The real and imaginary parts of an analytic function
f (z) = u + iv are always harmonic. That is ∇2 u = 0 and
∇2 v = 0.
If u(x, y) is not harmonic, then it cannot be the real part of
any analytic function.
If v(x, y) is not harmonic, then it cannot be the imaginary
part of any analytic function.
∂u 1 ∂u 1 ∂2u
u(r, θ) is harmonic, if ∂r2
+ r ∂r + r2 ∂θ2
=0

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Construction of Analytic function whose real or imaginary
part is known.

Construction of Analytic function whose real or imaginary part is

known.
let f (z) = u + iv be an analytic function whose real part u is
known. Then the imaginary part v and the analytic function f (z)
can be found as follows:
Method 1:
∂v ∂v
We know that dv = ∂x dx + ∂y dy

∂v
But = − ∂u
∂x
∂v ∂u
∂y and ∂y = ∂x ( Cauchy − Riemann equations )
 
dv = − ∂u ∂u


∴ ∂y dx + ∂x dy
Taking M = − ∂u
∂y and N =
∂u
∂x , we get dv = M dx + N dy

∂M ∂N 2 ∂2u
∂y − ∂x = − ∂∂yu2 − ∂x2
= −∇2 u
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..

As u satisfies Laplace’s equation, ∇2 u = 0.

Hence ∂M ∂N ∂M
∂y − ∂x = 0 or ∂y = ∂x
∂N

Thus, equation (1) is an exact differential equation. Hence equation

(1) can be integrated and v can be determined Now u and v are
known and hence the function f (z) = u + iv is determined

Method 2: Milne - Thomson’s Method

Let f (z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y)

Since z = x + iy and z̄ = x − iy
z + z̄ z − z̄
x= and y =
2 2i
z+z̄ z−z̄ z+z̄ z−z̄



∴ f (z) = u 2 , 2i + iv 2 , 2i

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..
Now Putting z̄ = z in (2), we get
f (z) = u(z, 0) + iv(z, 0)
∴ (3) is same as (1), if we replace x by z and y by 0.

Thus to express any function in terms of z, replace x by z and y by

0.
Now f 0 (z) = ∂u ∂v ∂u ∂u
∂x + i ∂x = ∂x − i ∂y , by Cauchy-Riemann equations.

∂u ∂u
Let ∂x = φ1 (x, y) and ∂y = φ2 (x, y)

Then f 0 (z) = φ1 (x, y) − iφ2 (x, y)

Now, to express f 0 (z) completely in terms of z, we replace x by z
and y by 0 in
∴ f 0 (z) = φ1 (z, R 0) − iφ2 (z, 0)
Hence f (z) = [φ1 (z, 0) − iφ2 (z, 0)] dz + c1 , where c1 is a complex
constant Similarly, if v(x, y) is given, we can find u such that u + iv
is analytic.
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..

Example 1:
find the regular (analytic) function whose innaginary part is
v = e−x (x cos y + y sin y)
∂v
= cos y −xe−x + e−x + (y sin y) −e−x



∂x
∂v
Solution: = xe−x (− sin y) + e−x [y cos y + sin y]
∂y
∂u ∂v
f 0 (z) = +i
∂x ∂x
f 0 (z) = ∂y
∂v ∂v
+ i ∂x (since by C-R eqns )
−xe−x cos y + e− cos y
 
0 −x −x
f (z) = −xe sin y+e (y cos y+sin y)+i
−e−x y sin y
f 0 (z) = −ze−z sin 0 + e−z (0 cos 0 + sin 0) + i [−ze−z cos 0+
e−z cos 0 − e−z 0 sin 0]
= 0 + ez (0) + i [−zez + e−z − 0] f 0 (z) = i [−zez + e−z ]
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Contd..
Z
ze−z − e−z dz + c


f (z) = − i
ez
Z Z 
= −i z (−ez ) + 1e−z − +c
−1
= − i −ze−z − e−z + e−z + c
 

= −i −ze−z + c
 

⇒ f (z) = ize−z + c

Example 2:
Find an analytic function f (z) = u(r, θ) + iv(r, θ) when
v(r, θ) = r2 cos 2θ − r cos θ + 2

Solution:
Let w = f (z) = u(r, θ) + iv(r,
 θ) is analytic
dw 0 −iθ
 ∂u ∂v
dz = f (z) = e ∂r + i ∂r

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Examples

Find the analytic function f (z) = u + iv when either the real

or imaginary part is given.
1 u = x2 − y 2 − x Ans:f (z) = z 2 − z − c.
2 sin x sin y
2 v= cos 2x+cosh 2y Ans: f (z) = sec z + c.
3 u= 2
r cos 2θ + r sin θ Ans: f (z) = z 2 − iz + c.
4 u − v = ex (cos y − sen y) Ans: f (z) = ez + k.
x 1
5 u= x2 +y 2
Ans: f (z) = z +c
6 y2
3u + 2v = −
+ 16x Ans: x2
2
f (z) = −3 2i
5 − 13 (z − 8) + C

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Examples

Check whether u = 12 log x2 + y 2 is harmonic or not. If so

1

find the harmonic conjugate of u.

2 If u(x, y) and v(x, y) are harmonic functions in a region R,
prove that (uy − vx ) + i (ux + vy ) is an analytic function.
3 Can u = xy 2 be a real part of the analytic function? Explain.
4 If u and v are harmonic, can u + iv be always an analytic
function? Justify your answer with an example.
5 Prove that an analytic function with constant absolute value
is always a constant function.
∂2 ∂2
4∂ 2
6 Prove that ∂x2
+
= ∂z∂
∂y 2
z̄
 2 2

7 Prove that ∂x ∂ ∂
2 + ∂y 2 |f (z)|2 = 4 |f 0 (z)|2 , where f (z) is an
analytic function.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Orthogonal curves

Two curves intersecting at a point P are said to be orthogonal, if

their tangents drawn at P are perpendicular to each other. Two
families of curves, or trajectories, are orthogonal if each curve of
the first family is orthogonal to each curve of the second family
wherever an intersection occurs.

Note:
The analytic function f (z) = u+iv consists of two families of curves
u(x, y) = c1 and v(x, y) = c2 which form an orthogonal system.
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Applications to Fluid flow problems
Consider a two dimensional irrotational motion of an incompressible
fluid, in planes parallel to xy -plane.
Let V~ be the velocity of a fluid particle, then it can be expressed as
~ = v1 î + v2 ĵ.......................(1)
V
Since the motion is irrotational, there exists a scalar function φ(x, y),
such that
~ = ∇φ(x, y) = ∂φ î + ∂φ ĵ.......................(2)
V
∂x ∂y
From (1) and (2), we have v1 = ∂φ ∂φ
∂x and v2 = ∂y .......................(3)
The scalar function φ(x, y), which gives the velocity components,
is called the velocity potential function or simply the velocity
potential. Also the fluid being incompressible, div V ~ =0
   
∂ ∂
⇒ î ∂x + ĵ ∂y · v1 î + v2 ĵ = 0
∂v1 ∂v2
.......................(4)
⇒ ∂x + ∂y = 0

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Applications to Fluid flow problems
Substituting the values of v1 and v2 from (3) in (4), we get
     2   2 
∂ ∂φ ∂ ∂φ ∂ φ ∂ φ
+ =0⇒ + =
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y ∂x2 ∂y 2

Thus the function φ is harmonic. This is the real part of an analytic

function.
f (z) = φ(x, y) + iψ(x, y)
df ∂φ ∂ψ ∂φ ∂φ
= +i = −i
dz ∂x ∂x ∂x ∂y
= v1 − iv2
q
df
The magnitude of the resultant velocity = dz = vx2 + vy2
φ(x, y) = C1 and ψ(x, y) = C2 are called equipotential lines
and lines of force respectively. In heat flow problem the curves
φ(x, y) = C1 and ψ(x, y) = C2 are known as isothermals and heat
flow lines respectively.
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Applications to Fluid flow problems

Examples:
1 Find the orthogonal trajectories of the family of curves
x3 y − xy 3 = c, where c is a constant.
2 If w = φ + iψ represents the complex potential of an electric
x
field and ψ = x2 − y 2 + x2 +y 2 then determine the velocity
potential φ.
p
3 If the velocity potential of a fluid is given by log x2 + y 2
then find the streamlines and the corresponding complex
potential.
4 An electrostatic field in the xy-plane is given by the potential
function φ = 3x2 y − y 3 , find the stream function.

Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions
Dr. P. Vijay KumarAssistant Professor, SAS-Mathematics Lecture 1: Complex variables, Analytic Functions