View source for Analyticity of holomorphic functions

{{Short description|Theorem}}
{{Complex_analysis_sidebar}}
In [[Complex analysis|complex analysis]], a [[Complex number|complex]]-valued [[Function (mathematics)|function]] <math>f</math> of a complex variable <math>z</math>:

*is said to be [[Holomorphic function|holomorphic]] at a point <math>a</math> if it is [[Differentiable function|differentiable]] at every point within some open disk centered at <math>a</math>, and
* is said to be [[Analytic function|analytic]] at <math>a</math> if in some open disk centered at <math>a</math> it can be expanded as a [[Convergent series|convergent]] [[Power series|power series]] <math display="block">f(z)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty c_n(z-a)^n</math> (this implies that the [[Radius of convergence|radius of convergence]] is positive).

One of the most important theorems of complex analysis is that '''holomorphic functions are analytic and vice versa'''.  Among the corollaries of this theorem are

* the [[Identity theorem|identity theorem]] that two holomorphic functions that agree at every point of an [[Infinite set|infinite set]] <math>S</math> with an [[Accumulation point|accumulation point]] inside the [[Intersection|intersection]] of their [[Domain of a function|domains]] also agree everywhere in every connected open [[Subset|subset]] of their domains that contains the set <math>S</math>, and
* the fact that, since power series are infinitely differentiable, so are holomorphic functions (this is in contrast to the case of real differentiable functions), and
* the fact that the radius of convergence is always the [[Distance|distance]] from the center <math>a</math> to the nearest non-removable singularity; if there are no singularities (i.e., if <math>f</math> is an [[Entire function|entire function]]), then the radius of convergence is infinite.  Strictly speaking, this is not a corollary of the theorem but rather a by-product of the proof.
* no [[Bump function|bump function]] on the complex plane can be entire.  In particular, on any connected open subset of the complex plane, there can be no bump function defined on that set which is holomorphic on the set.  This has important ramifications for the study of [[Complex manifold|complex manifolds]], as it precludes the use of partitions of unity.  In contrast the partition of unity is a tool which can be used on any real manifold.

== Proof ==

The argument, first given by Cauchy, hinges on [[Cauchy's integral formula]] and the power series expansion of the expression

: <math>\frac 1 {w-z} .</math>

Let <math>D</math> be an open disk centered at <math>a</math> and suppose <math>f</math> is differentiable everywhere within an open neighborhood containing the closure of <math>D</math>.  Let <math>C</math> be the positively oriented (i.e., counterclockwise) circle which is the boundary of <math>D</math> and let <math>z</math> be a point in <math>D</math>.  Starting with Cauchy's integral formula, we have

: <math>\begin{align}f(z) &{}= {1 \over 2\pi i}\int_C {f(w) \over w-z}\,\mathrm{d}w \\[10pt]

&{}= {1 \over 2\pi i}\int_C {f(w) \over (w-a)-(z-a)} \,\mathrm{d}w \\[10pt]
&{}={1 \over 2\pi i}\int_C {1 \over w-a}\cdot{1 \over 1-{z-a \over w-a}}f(w)\,\mathrm{d}w \\[10pt]
&{}={1 \over 2\pi i}\int_C {1 \over w-a}\cdot{\sum_{n=0}^\infty\left({z-a \over w-a}\right)^n} f(w)\,\mathrm{d}w \\[10pt]
&{}=\sum_{n=0}^\infty{1 \over 2\pi i}\int_C {(z-a)^n \over (w-a)^{n+1}} f(w)\,\mathrm{d}w.\end{align}</math>

Interchange of the integral and infinite sum is justified by observing that <math>f(w)/(w-a)</math> is  bounded on <math>C</math> by some positive number <math>M</math>, while for all <math>w</math> in <math>C</math>

: <math>\left|\frac{z-a}{w-a}\right|\leq r < 1 </math>

for some positive <math>r</math> as well.  We therefore have

: <math>\left| {(z-a)^n \over (w-a)^{n+1} }f(w) \right| \le Mr^n,</math>

on <math>C</math>, and as the [[Weierstrass M-test]] shows the series converges uniformly over <math>C</math>, the sum and the integral may be interchanged.

As the factor <math>(z-a)^n</math> does not depend on the variable of integration <math>w</math>, it may be factored out to yield

: <math>f(z)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty (z-a)^n {1 \over 2\pi i}\int_C {f(w) \over (w-a)^{n+1}} \,\mathrm{d}w,</math>

which has the desired form of a power series in <math>z</math>:

: <math>f(z)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty c_n(z-a)^n</math>

with coefficients

: <math>c_n={1 \over 2\pi i}\int_C {f(w) \over (w-a)^{n+1}} \,\mathrm{d}w.</math>

== Remarks ==
* Since power series can be differentiated term-wise, applying the above argument in the reverse direction and the power series expression for <math display="block"> \frac 1 {(w-z)^{n+1}} </math> gives <math display="block">f^{(n)}(a) = {n! \over 2\pi i} \int_C {f(w) \over (w-a)^{n+1}}\, dw.</math> This is a [[Cauchy's integral formula|Cauchy integral formula]] for derivatives. Therefore the power series obtained above is the [[Taylor series]] of <math>f</math>.
* The argument works if <math>z</math> is any point that is closer to the center <math>a</math> than is any singularity of <math>f</math>.  Therefore, the radius of convergence of the Taylor series cannot be smaller than the distance from <math>a</math> to the nearest singularity (nor can it be larger, since power series have no singularities in the interiors of their circles of convergence).
* A special case of the [[Identity theorem|identity theorem]] follows from the preceding remark.  If two holomorphic functions agree on a (possibly quite small) open neighborhood <math>U</math> of <math>a</math>, then they coincide on the open disk <math>B_d(a)</math>, where <math>d</math> is the distance from <math>a</math> to the nearest singularity.

== External links ==
* {{planetmath reference|urlname=ExistenceOfPowerSeries|title=Existence of power series}}

[[Category:Analytic functions|holomorphic functions]]
[[Category:Theorems in complex analysis]]

{{Sourceattribution|Analyticity of holomorphic functions}}