Cauchy-Riemann equations

A distribution $u$ on a plane open set with ${\partial }_{\bar{z}}u=0$ is represented by a holomorphic function. Indeed $\Delta u=4{\partial }_z{\partial }_{\bar{z}}u=0$, and elliptic regularity makes $u$ smooth. For a direct proof, mollify locally with a radial mollifier ${\eta }_{\epsilon }$. The resulting smooth functions are harmonic. Their mean value property gives $(u\ast {\eta }_{\epsilon })\ast {\eta }_r=u\ast {\eta }_{\epsilon }$ on a smaller ball for fixed small $r$. Passing to the weak convergence of distributions limit gives $u\ast {\eta }_r=u$ there. This proves smoothness without assuming local integrability beforehand. The ordinary Cauchy-Riemann equations now prove holomorphy.

The equation ${\partial }_{z}u=0$ similarly characterizes antiholomorphic functions. On the whole plane, the homogeneous solutions are respectively arbitrary entire functions $h(z)$ and the functions $h(\bar{z})$ with $h$ entire. Consequently any two fundamental solutions for one of these Wirtinger derivatives differ by the corresponding homogeneous solution.

For a holomorphic function $f=u+iv$, the Cauchy-Riemann equations give the displayed gradient identities. Where $f^{\prime }\ne 0$, both level sets are regular curves; their nonzero normal vectors are perpendicular, so their tangents are perpendicular as well. The qualification is necessary. At a critical point both gradients vanish and the zero level sets may have several tangent branches. For $f(z)=z^2$ at zero, $u=0$ consists of two diagonals while $v=0$ consists of the two coordinate axes; there is no general orthogonality assertion at that point.

The first-order Cauchy-Riemann operator on two real variables is ${\partial }_{\bar{z}}=\frac{1}{2}({\partial }_{x_1}+i{\partial }_{x_2})$. It is a scalar complex elliptic differential operator, since its principal symbol has nonzero modulus at every nonzero real frequency.

A prescribed inhomogeneous Wirtinger derivative equation. The distributional identity ${\partial }_{\bar{z}}(1/(\pi z))={\delta }_0$ gives its whole-plane right inverse through the Cauchy-Green operator. Boundary or decay conditions select a solution from the freedom to add a holomorphic function.

A dbar equation in a complex spectral parameter, rather than the original spatial coordinate. In spectral reconstruction, its right-hand side is transformed data. A Cauchy-Pompeiu formula in the spectral plane reconstructs the auxiliary function; an asymptotic coefficient or the original differential equation then recovers the spatial field.

For the first-order Cauchy-Riemann operator, the equation ${\varphi }_t-i{\varphi }_x=0$ admits the entire functions ${\varphi }_n(x,t)=e^{-\sqrt{n}}\cos (n(x+it))$. Every fixed-order derivative of the initial data converges uniformly to zero, since $n^r{e}^{-\sqrt{n}}\to 0$. Nevertheless ${\sup }_x|{\varphi }_n(x,t)|=e^{-\sqrt{n}}\cosh (n|t|)\to \infty$ for each $t\ne 0$. Thus even convergence of all initial derivatives does not give continuous dependence on initial data away from the initial line. Analytic existence and smooth-data stability are different properties.

For $z=x+iy$, the Wirtinger derivatives are ${\partial }_z=({\partial }_x-i{\partial }_y)/2$ and ${\partial }_{\bar{z}}=({\partial }_x+i{\partial }_y)/2$. The Cauchy-Riemann equations become ${\partial }_{\bar{z}}F=0$ for a holomorphic function $F$, and $4{\partial }_z{\partial }_{\bar{z}}=\Delta$. Thus $u_z$ is holomorphic whenever $u$ is a twice continuously differentiable harmonic function.

Let $g$ be a holomorphic function on an open set $\Omega \subseteq \mathbb{C}$. Among continuously differentiable functions, all solutions of ${\partial }_{\bar{z}}f=g$ arewhere $h$ is an arbitrary holomorphic function on $\Omega$. The Wirtinger derivatives satisfy ${\partial }_{\bar{z}}\bar{z}=1$ and ${\partial }_{\bar{z}}g=0$, so the product rule verifies the particular solution $\bar{z}g(z)$. Subtracting it from any other solution leaves a continuously differentiable function with vanishing Wirtinger derivative, hence a holomorphic function by the Cauchy-Riemann equations. Conversely adding such a holomorphic function changes no prescribed derivative. For $g(z)=z$ on the complex plane, the solutions are $|z{|}^2+h(z)$ with $h$ any entire function.