 Solution

Suppose first that $u$ is harmonic. Sincethe Cauchy-Riemann equations show thatis holomorphic on $D$. An open disc is a simply connected domain, so $g$ has a holomorphic primitive $f$. If $f=p+iq$, thenThus $p-u$ has zero gradient and is constant on the connected disc. Subtracting that real constant from $f$ gives

Conversely, if $u=\mathrm{Re}f$ for a holomorphic $f=u+iv$, differentiating the Cauchy-Riemann equations givesHence $u$ is harmonic. This proves the harmonic function as the real part of a holomorphic function criterion on $D$.