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An analytic continuation extends a holomorphic function beyond its original domain without changing its existing values. Formally, if $U\subset V$ are domains and $f$ is holomorphic on $U$, a holomorphic function $F$ on $V$ with $F{|}_U=f$ is an analytic continuation. More locally, holomorphic functions on overlapping open sets continue one another when they agree on the overlap, allowing a chain of patches along a path. The identity theorem for holomorphic functions forces agreement throughout a connected overlap once they agree on a nonempty open set in it. It also makes an extension to a fixed connected domain unique. ^[ref]

The geometric series illustrates why a formula can reach farther than the power series that first represents it. For $z\ne 1$, its partial sum isWhen $|z|<1$, $z^{N+1}\to 0$, so the series converges to $f(z)=1/(1-z)$. The rational function $F(z)=1/(1-z)$ is holomorphic on $\mathbb{C}\setminus \{1\}$ and agrees there with the sum on the unit disc. It therefore continues $f$ to every point except its simple pole at $1$. In particular,Thus analytic continuation gives a value at $2$ without making the original geometric series converge there. Its radius of convergence remains $1$: on $|z|\ge 1$ the terms $z^n$ do not even tend to zero.

The pole at $1$ limits the original Taylor series, although most points of its convergence circle are regular for $F$. Recentring at $-1$ gives another genuinely convergent power series,At $z=-3/2$ this yields $\frac{1}{2}{\sum }_{n\ge 0}(-1/4{)}^n=2/5$, even though the original powers of $-3/2$ grow. This is the useful idea: overlapping local descriptions can represent one holomorphic function on a larger region.

Uniqueness on a connected overlap does not imply that every path leads to the same terminal germ of a holomorphic function. Continuing a complex logarithm around $0$ changes its value by $2\pi i$, giving monodromy; the return patch can carry a different branch of a multivalued function. If two patches have a disconnected overlap, agreement on one component imposes no agreement on the others. ^[ref] Continuation using the rational function $1/(1-z)$ is single-valued: any path avoiding $1$ gives the same terminal germ of a holomorphic function, even if it winds around the pole.

A branch point is a point around which a sufficiently small loop can change a germ of a holomorphic function under analytic continuation. This is a local condition: a large loop around a regular point might also enclose a distant branch point, so that large loop alone cannot classify the regular point. For the complex logarithm and square root, every nonzero point has a local holomorphic branch, but a loop once around $0$ changes the chosen branch. ^[ref]

For $z=r{e}^{it}$ with fixed $r>0$, start at $t=0$ with values $\sqrt{r}$ and $\log r$. Their continuations areOne counterclockwise turn gives $w(2\pi )=-\sqrt{r}$ and $L(2\pi )=\log r+2\pi i$. At $r=4$, the square root therefore changes from $2$ to $-2$, while the logarithm changes from $\log 4$ to $\log 4+2\pi i$. Two turns restore the square root to $2$; no nonzero number of turns restores the logarithm. This distinguishes a two-sheeted algebraic branch point from a logarithmic singularity.

A pole need not be a branch point: $1/z$ is unbounded near $0$, yet $1/(r{e}^{it})=r^{-1}{e}^{-it}$ returns to its starting value after one turn. Conversely, the square-root values tend to $0$ at their branch point. The issue is whether a single holomorphic choice survives going around the point, rather than whether the values become large. On the Riemann sphere, infinity is also a branch point of both $\sqrt{z}$ and $\log z$: in the local coordinate $\zeta =1/z$, these are ${\zeta }^{-1/2}$ and $-\log \zeta$, whose continuations around $\zeta =0$ change sign and subtract $2\pi i$, respectively. ^[ref]

The monodromy theorem gives equality of continuations that exist under its hypothesis. It does not assert that every holomorphic function admits analytic continuation everywhere, even within a simply connected domain.

For an explicit obstruction, take $f(z)=1/(1-z)$ near $a=0$ and attempt to apply the theorem on $D=\mathbb{C}$. The path $\eta (t)=t$ ends at $1$, where no terminal germ of a holomorphic function exists. If a holomorphic representative $G$ near $1$ continued $f$, then the identity theorem would extend $(1-z)G(z)=1$ to that neighbourhood. Substituting $z=1$ would give $0=1$. Thus the pole prevents the existence hypothesis, although $\mathbb{C}$ is a simply connected domain. The analytic continuation article explains why the same rational function does continue throughout $\mathbb{C}\setminus \{1\}$.

Existence at an endpoint by some route is also weaker than existence along every path from the base point. Along the real segment from $1$ towards $0$, a holomorphic square root of $z$ tends to $0$, yet cannot continue holomorphically through $0$: a local representative $G$ would satisfy $G^2=z$ by the identity theorem, and differentiating at $0$ would give $2G(0)G^{\prime }(0)=1$ with $G(0)=0$. A finite limiting value therefore does not remove a branch point. More severe obstructions appear at a natural boundary of a holomorphic function.

A function element is a pair $(f,D)$ consisting of a nonempty disk and a holomorphic function on that disk. Its local value determines a germ of a holomorphic function. Elements agreeing on an overlapping neighborhood continue one another; chains of such continuations produce the complete analytic function generated by an element. An algebraic identity holding in one element persists along any continuation chain by the identity theorem.

A germ at a point is an equivalence class of functions defined on a neighbourhood of the point: two representatives are equivalent if they agree on some smaller neighbourhood. A germ of a holomorphic function requires its representatives to be holomorphic functions; smooth and continuous germs use their corresponding classes of functions. The germ retains local behavior while forgetting the representative's values farther from the point.

Along one path, analytic continuation is a chain of function elements on overlapping open discs, each agreeing with the preceding germ of a holomorphic function near the crossing point. The identity theorem makes this chain unique along that fixed path. Equality at a crossing means equality on a neighbourhood, not just equality of a single value.

For the deformation step, fix one intermediate path $t\mapsto H(s_0,t)$ and its continuation. By compactness of $[0,1]$, choose a finite chain of representative open discs and subdivide the parameter so that each subarc fits in its assigned open disc, with consecutive junctions in overlap neighbourhoods where the representatives agree. Joint continuity of $H$ ensures that every sufficiently nearby intermediate path uses that same chain and those same overlaps. The endpoints stay fixed, so the terminal germ of a holomorphic function stays unchanged. Existence along every intermediate path supplies this argument at each $s_0$; local constancy and connectedness of $[0,1]$ give equality at $s=0$ and $s=1$. This proves the monodromy theorem without assuming that every analytic germ projection is a covering map.

Start at $a=1$ with complex logarithm germ of a holomorphic function $L(1)=0$ and holomorphic square root germ of a holomorphic function $S(1)=1$. On the punctured plane $D=\mathbb{C}\setminus \{0\}$, both admit analytic continuation along every path. To construct it locally, for any $c\ne 0$ choose a small open disc avoiding $0$, select a holomorphic logarithm there, and select its additive multiple of $2\pi i$ to agree with the arriving germ of a holomorphic function; exponentiating half this logarithm supplies the arriving holomorphic square root. A finite chain of these open discs follows any given path.

Compare two paths from $1$ to $i$, parametrized by $0\le t\le 1$:The first follows a counterclockwise quarter-circle; the second follows a clockwise three-quarter-circle. Following ${\gamma }_A$ and then path reversal of ${\gamma }_B$ makes one positive turn about $0$. Its winding number is $1$, so the two paths cannot be homotopic with endpoints fixed in the punctured plane.

The continued values along the chosen paths areAt their common endpoint,Both complex logarithm values exponentiate to $i$, and both holomorphic square root values square to $i$. These give different terminal germ of a holomorphic function representatives, consistently obtained from the same starting germ of a holomorphic function. The monodromy theorem applies, but does not equate these two non-homotopic paths.

The closed path $\lambda (t)=e^{2\pi it}$ instead returns to $1$, with continued values $L_{\lambda }(t)=2\pi it$ and $S_{\lambda }(t)=e^{\pi it}$. One counterclockwise turn changes the complex logarithm by $2\pi i$ and flips the holomorphic square root from $1$ to $-1$. Hence neither initial germ of a holomorphic function can come from a global holomorphic logarithm or a global holomorphic square root of $z$ on the punctured plane. Repeating a loop of winding number $n$ gives the changes $2\pi in$ and $(-1{)}^n$. ^[ref]

Now restrict to the slit domain $D_{\mathrm{slit}}=\mathbb{C}\setminus (-\infty ,0]$. The principal logarithm and $\exp (\mathrm{Log}z/2)$ realize the same initial germ of a holomorphic function for each expression globally. To see that this is a simply connected domain, polar form identifies this domain with $(0,\infty )\times (-\pi ,\pi )$, a convex set; every loop contracts there. The simply connected corollary of the monodromy theorem now forces equality along every pair of paths with matching endpoints. In particular, ${\gamma }_A$ and the segment $\sigma (t)=1-t+it$ both give $L(i)=\pi i/2$ and $S(i)=(1+i)/\sqrt{2}$. The explicit homotopy $H(s,t)=(1-s){\gamma }_A(t)+s\sigma (t)$ stays in the closed first quadrant away from $0$, hence in $D_{\mathrm{slit}}$.

The other route ${\gamma }_B$ crosses the removed ray at $t=2/3$ and is no longer admissible. In the punctured plane, that crossing is locally regular: analytic continuation passes through $-1$ smoothly, although evaluating the principal logarithm would reset its argument. The branch cut changes the allowed domain; it does not create additional branch points or poles. That distinction is the beauty of the obstruction: perfectly compatible local holomorphic functions can fail to make a global choice solely because of the allowed based loops. The branches of a multivalued function article develops how moving the branch cut changes the selected values.

Monodromy records how a germ of a holomorphic function changes after analytic continuation around a closed path. The source point returns to itself, but the continued germ of a holomorphic function need not. For $z(t)=e^{it}$, $0\le t\le 2\pi$, starting with holomorphic square root value $1$ gives $w(t)=e^{it/2}$ and hence $w(2\pi )=-1$; starting with complex logarithm value $0$ gives $L(t)=it$ and hence $L(2\pi )=2\pi i$. After $m$ counterclockwise turns the values are $(-1{)}^m$ and $2\pi im$. Thus monodromy exchanges the two square-root branches of a multivalued function, whereas it shifts through infinitely many logarithm branches of a multivalued function. ^[ref]

The three panels use the same parameter $t$. They show analytic continuation through local holomorphic patches, including across a chosen branch cut; repeatedly evaluating the principal logarithm would instead reset its imaginary part at the cut. Monodromy makes the obstruction to a global branch of a multivalued function visible and motivates the use of Riemann surfaces as domains on which continued values stay distinct.

The monodromy theorem says that, when analytic continuation exists throughout a domain, its ambiguity depends on homotopy. Let $D\subset \mathbb{C}$ be a domain, $a\in D$, and $g_a$ a germ of a holomorphic function at $a$. Assume $g_a$ admits analytic continuation along every continuous path in $D$ starting at $a$. Two such paths ending at $b$ give the same terminal germ of a holomorphic function if they are homotopic with endpoints fixed in $D$. ^[ref]

Here a homotopy with endpoints fixed is a continuous map $H:[0,1{]}^2\to D$ satisfyingEvery intermediate path must stay in $D$. Equality means agreement on a neighbourhood of $b$, rather than merely equal values at $b$. ^[ref]

The identity theorem provides local rigidity; the monodromy theorem shows precisely how topology controls the remaining global freedom. Deforming a route without crossing a forbidden point cannot change the resulting germ of a holomorphic function. Thus a complicated analytic continuation calculation can be replaced by one on a simpler homotopic route. Distinct homotopy classes can still give the same continuation: a rational function on its domain already gives a single-valued answer along every route, even around a pole.

Two function elements $(U,f)$ and $(V,g)$ define the same germ of a holomorphic function at $p$ when $p\in U\cap V$ and they agree on some neighborhood of $p$. Write the germ as $[f{]}_p$. Basic open sets of the space of germs of holomorphic functions arefor open $U$ on which $f$ is holomorphic. If two such sets meet, equality of the germs gives a smaller open sheet contained in their intersection, so these sets form a basis. The projection $\pi ([f{]}_p)=p$ maps each sheet homeomorphically onto $U$. Compose this with a local coordinate on $X$ to define the complex charts on the germ space. Transition maps are the corresponding transition maps on $X$, hence holomorphic; $\pi$ is a local biholomorphism and is onto, since even constant functions provide germs over every point.

The germ space is Hausdorff. Germs over different points are separated by base neighborhoods. For distinct germs over the same point, choose representatives on one small connected disk. If their two sheets met anywhere in that disk, the representatives would agree on an open set and hence everywhere on the disk by the identity theorem, a contradiction. These sheets thus separate the germs. Together with the allowed second-countability fact, the charts make each component a Riemann surface.

Here “covering in the sense of complex analysis” means this locally biholomorphic, possibly incomplete analytic germ projection. It does not mean an evenly covered topological covering map: an analytic branch can cease to exist at a singularity, so the restriction to a component need not project onto all of $X$.

The evaluation map $E([f{]}_p)=f(p)$ is holomorphic, since on the sheet ${\tilde{U}}_f$ it is just $f$. Starting from one germ, continuation through overlapping disks produces exactly the germs in its connected component. Indeed such continuations give paths in the germ space; conversely, cover a path by finitely many successive sheets to obtain a chain of function elements. Components are path-connected because the surface is locally path-connected. No two distinct germs can be added to that component without being obtainable by continuation. It therefore represents the maximal analytic continuation, or complete holomorphic function, of any of its germs. Conversely every such maximal continuation embeds into the germ space by taking its local germs; completeness makes its image the entire component. These constructions are inverse, giving the requested bijection between complete holomorphic functions and connected components, with functions understood up to their natural equivalence as analytic continuations, rather than merely as single-valued functions defined on all of $X$.

Two holomorphic function elements represent the same germ of a holomorphic function at $z$ if they agree on some neighbourhood of $z$. For a holomorphic $f$ on an open $D\subseteq G$, set $U(f,D)=\{[f{]}_z:z\in D\}$. These sets form a basis of a topology on the space of germs of holomorphic functions: every germ lies in one, and if a germ lies in two, equality of the representatives on a smaller neighbourhood supplies a basis of a topology set in their intersection. Declaring arbitrary unions of basis of a topology sets open therefore gives a topology.

Different base points are separated by disjoint small discs in $G$. If two different germs have the same base point, choose representatives on one connected small disc. Their sheets are disjoint: any common germ elsewhere on that disc would force equality throughout the disc by the identity theorem. This proves the Hausdorff property.

The projection $\pi ([f{]}_z)=z$ maps each sheet $U(f,D)$ homeomorphically onto $D$. Use these maps as complex charts. On overlaps their transition functions are the identity, hence holomorphic; thus each connected component is a Riemann surface, and $\pi$ is a local biholomorphism, an analytic germ projection. For completeness, second countability of a component follows by following continuation chains through a countable basis of a topology of rational discs: starting at one germ, finite chains of such discs give only countably many continuation sheets, by uniqueness on overlaps, and they cover every germ in that component.

A complete analytic function consists of all germs reachable from one initial germ by analytic continuation. The supplied path-lifting equivalence identifies these with its path component. Since the germ space is locally path connected, connected components and path components agree. Thus its continuation surface is exactly one component ${\mathcal{G}}_{\mathcal{F}}$.

A local biholomorphism need not evenly cover the whole base; the germ projection is an analytic covering in this local sense. The examples below distinguish a genuine regular covering map from a surjective nonregular projection, with the meaning of regular stated explicitly.

A function element is a pair $(f,D)$ consisting of a domain $D\subseteq G$ and a holomorphic function $f:D\to \mathbb{C}$ belonging to the given complete analytic function. Its germ of a holomorphic function at $z\in D$ is the equivalence class $[f{]}_z$, where two elements are equivalent when they agree on a neighbourhood of $z$.

For every function element $(f,D)$ and sufficiently small open $U\subseteq D$, setThese sets form a basis for the space of germs of holomorphic functions. The projectionrestricts to a homeomorphism $U_f\to U$. The inverse projections $\pi {|}_{U_f}$ are compatible complex charts, making $\mathcal{G}$ a Riemann surface and $\pi$ a covering map and local biholomorphism. In such a chart, the evaluation map on a space of germs has coordinate expressionIt is therefore holomorphic on every chart, hence analytic on each component of $\mathcal{G}$.

Now let $f:R\to S$ be a nonconstant analytic map of compact connected Riemann surfaces, and let $B$ be its finite branch-value set. Each point of $B$ is a branch value of a holomorphic map. At every point of $R\setminus f^{-1}(B)$ the local degree is one, so the holomorphic inverse-function theorem supplies a neighbourhood on which $f$ is biholomorphic. For $y\in S\setminus B$, the fibre is finite. Choose disjoint inverse neighbourhoods around all its points and shrink their common image; compactness, or equivalently properness of $f$, ensures that no additional preimages enter. Thusis an ordinary unramified covering map.

Fix $P\in S\setminus B$. Given a loop $\gamma$ based at $P$, lift it from every $Q\in f^{-1}(P)$ and send $Q$ to the endpoint of its lift. The path lifting theorem makes this a permutation; concatenation of loops composes the permutations and reversal gives inverses. Its image is the monodromy group of a covering. The punctured surface $R\setminus f^{-1}(B)$ is path connected. Given two points of the fibre, join them there by a path; its projection is a loop whose lift joins those points. Hence the monodromy action is transitive.

Finally considerIt has degree four. Its finite critical points satisfywith branch values $2$ and $-2$; the double poles at zero and infinity give the branch value infinity. For a regular value, the fibre isThe two commuting involutions $z\mapsto -z$ and $z\mapsto z^{-1}$ preserve $F$ and act transitively on this fibre. They generate all four deck transformations, so the covering is normal and its monodromy group isWith the displayed ordering of the fibre, its elements areThis is the monodromy group of z squared plus z to the minus two.

A germ of a holomorphic function at $z\in D$ is an equivalence class $[f{]}_z$ of pairs consisting of a neighbourhood $U$ of $z$ and a holomorphic function $f:U\to \mathbb{C}$. Two pairs represent the same germ if their functions agree on some neighbourhood of $z$.

The space of germs of holomorphic functions isFor every holomorphic $f$ on an open $U\subseteq D$, the setis declared open; these sets form a basis. The forgetful mapmaps each ${\tilde{U}}_f$ homeomorphically onto $U$. The inverses of these restrictions give the charts defining the complex structure, so $\pi$ is a local biholomorphism.

The evaluation map isIt is well-defined by the germ equivalence relation. On the chart ${\tilde{U}}_f$, its coordinate expression iswhich is holomorphic. Hence $\mathcal{E}$ is analytic, as stated in evaluation map on a space of germs.

Now putThis gives the germ surface of the square root of z to the eighth minus one. An explicit gluing description is obtained by pairing the eight roots into four adjacent pairs and cutting the plane along four disjoint arcs joining the members of each pair. On the complement of the cuts choose one branch $q(z)$ of $\sqrt{z^8-1}$. Take two copies, labelled by $q$ and $-q$, and glue the upper bank of each cut in one copy to the lower bank in the other, and conversely. The cut interiors are restored by the gluing, while the eight endpoints remain absent because they are not in $D$.

On this surface defineFor each $(z,w)\in R$, the holomorphic function $z^8-1$ is nonzero near $z$, so it has a unique local square root $q$ with $q(z)=w$. DefineThis is well-defined, injective, and analytic in the displayed local sheets; its inverse on its image is $[q{]}_z\mapsto (z,q(z))$. Thus $\Phi$ is the required analytic embedding, and it intertwines both the forgetful and evaluation maps.

To compactify, first add one point above each of the eight roots of unity. These are simple branch points of the double cover. Since the polynomial has even degree eight, the even-degree hyperelliptic model has two distinct, unbranched points above infinity. Consequently

Finally apply the Riemann-Hurwitz formula to the degree-two meromorphic map $\bar{\pi }:\overline{R}\to {\mathbb{C}}_{\infty }$. Its only ramification consists of the eight simple finite branch points, soThereforeThis is the compactification of y squared equals x to the eighth minus one.

On a simply connected domain $D$, a germ of a holomorphic function admitting analytic continuation along every path from its base point determines a unique holomorphic function $F:D\to \mathbb{C}$ with that initial germ of a holomorphic function. ^[ref]

Indeed, any two paths with the same endpoints are homotopic with endpoints fixed. Define $F(b)$ using the terminal germ of a holomorphic function. The monodromy theorem makes this independent of the path. In a small open disc about $b$, extend the chosen route by a short segment; the same local representative supplies $F$ throughout the open disc, proving holomorphy. The identity theorem proves uniqueness. The existence hypothesis of the monodromy theorem must still be checked.