Connections With Complex Function Theory
The real and imaginary part of any holomorphic function yield harmonic functions on R2 (these are said to be a pair of harmonic conjugate functions). Conversely, any harmonic function u on an open subset Ω of R2 is locally the real part of a holomorphic function. This is immediately seen observing that, writing z = x + iy, the complex function g(z) := ux − i uy is holomorphic in Ω because it satisfies the Cauchy–Riemann equations. Therefore, g has locally a primitive f, and u is the real part of f up to a constant, as ux is the real part of .
Although the above correspondence with holomorphic functions only holds for functions of two real variables, still harmonic functions in n variables enjoy a number of properties typical of holomorphic functions. They are (real) analytic; they have a maximum principle and a mean-value principle; a theorem of removal of singularities as well as a Liouville theorem one holds for them in analogy to the corresponding theorems in complex functions theory.
Read more about this topic: Harmonic Function
Famous quotes containing the words connections with, connections, complex, function and/or theory:
“Growing up human is uniquely a matter of social relations rather than biology. What we learn from connections within the family takes the place of instincts that program the behavior of animals; which raises the question, how good are these connections?”
—Elizabeth Janeway (b. 1913)
“A foreign minister, I will maintain it, can never be a good man of business if he is not an agreeable man of pleasure too. Half his business is done by the help of his pleasures: his views are carried on, and perhaps best, and most unsuspectedly, at balls, suppers, assemblies, and parties of pleasure; by intrigues with women, and connections insensibly formed with men, at those unguarded hours of amusement.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“It’s a complex fate, being an American, and one of the responsibilities it entails is fighting against a superstitious valuation of Europe.”
—Henry James (1843–1916)
“The fact remains that the human being in early childhood learns to consider one or the other aspect of bodily function as evil, shameful, or unsafe. There is not a culture which does not use a combination of these devils to develop, by way of counterpoint, its own style of faith, pride, certainty, and initiative.”
—Erik H. Erikson (1904–1994)
“Thus the theory of description matters most.
It is the theory of the word for those
For whom the word is the making of the world,
The buzzing world and lisping firmament.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)