Constant-phase contour ($\mathrm{Im}\varphi (z)=\text{constant}$)

For an exponential integral with phase $\varphi$, a constant-phase contour holds the imaginary part of $\varphi$ fixed. Along it, decreasing real part of $\varphi$ gives steepest descent, while increasing real part gives steepest ascent. At a cubic stationary point, six rays alternate between descent and ascent.