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In mathematics, the Cauchy-Riemann differential equations in complex analysis, named after Augustin Cauchy and Bernhard Riemann, are two partial differential equations which provide a necessary and sufficient condition for a differentiable function to be holomorphic in an open set. This system of equations first appeared in the work of Jean le Rond d'Alembert (d'Alembert 1752) . Later, Leonhard Euler connected this system to the analytic functions (Euler 1777) . Cauchy (1814) then used these equations to construct his theory of functions. Riemann's dissertation (Riemann 1851) on the theory of functions appeared in 1851.
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The Cauchy-Riemann equations on a pair of real-valued functions u(x,y) and v(x,y) are the two equations:
- (1a)
and
- (1b)
Typically the pair u and v are taken to be the real and imaginary parts of a complex-valued function f(x + iy) = u(x,y) + iv(x,y). Suppose that u and v are continuously differentiable on an open subset of C. Then Goursat's theorem asserts that f=u+iv is holomorphic if and only if the partial derivatives of u and v satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations (1a) and (1b).
Interpretation and reformulation
editConformal mappings
editThe Cauchy-Riemann equations are often reformulated in a variety of ways. Firstly, they may be written in complex form
- (2)
In this form, the equations correspond structurally to the condition that the Jacobian matrix is of the form
where and . A matrix of this form is the matrix representation of a complex number. Geometrically, such a matrix is always the composition of a rotation with a scaling, and in particular preserves angles. Consequently, a function satisfying the Cauchy-Riemann equations, with a nonzero derivative, preserves the angle between curves in the plane. That is, the Cauchy-Riemann equations are the conditions for a function to be conformal.
Independence of the complex conjugate
editThe equations are typically written as a single equation
- (3)
where the differential operator is defined by
In this form, the Cauchy-Riemann equations can be interpreted as the statement that f is independent of the variable .
Complex differentiability
editThe Cauchy-Riemann equations are necessary and sufficient conditions for the complex differentiability of a function (Ahlfors 1953, §1.2) . Specifically, suppose that
if a function of a complex number z∈C. Then the complex derivative of f at a point z0 is defined by
provided this limit exists.
If this limit exists, then it may be computed by taking the limit as h→0 along the real axis or imaginary axis; in either case it should give the same result. Approaching along the real axis, one finds
On the other hand, approaching along the imaginary axis,
The equality of the derivative of f taken along the two axes is
which are the Cauchy-Riemann equations (2) at the point z0.
Conversely, if f:C → C is a function which is differentiable when regarded as a function into R2, then f is complex differentiable if and only if the Cauchy-Riemann equations hold.
Physical interpretation
editOne interpretation of the Cauchy-Riemann equations (Pólya & Szegö 1978) does not involve complex variables directly. Suppose that u and v satisfy the Cauchy-Riemann equations in an open subset of R2, and consider the vector field
regarded as a (real) two-component vector. Then the first Cauchy-Riemann equation (1a) asserts that is irrotational:
The second Cauchy-Riemann equation (1b) asserts that the vector field is solenoidal (or divergence-free):