Harmonic conjugate

A harmonic conjugate v makes u+iv holomorphic; it exists globally on simply connected domains.

For a holomorphic function $f=u+iv$, the Cauchy-Riemann equations imply $\nabla u\cdot \nabla v=0$ and $|\nabla u|=|\nabla v|=|f^{\prime }|$. At a point where $f^{\prime }\ne 0$, the two regular level curves therefore meet at right angles, since each tangent is perpendicular to its nonzero gradient. The noncritical condition is necessary: for $f(z)=z^2$, the zero level sets are the coordinate axes and the two diagonals, which meet at angles of $\pi /4$ at the critical point zero. Orthogonality at regular points is one geometric expression of conformality.

For a harmonic function $u$, the function $g=u_x-i{u}_y$ is holomorphic. It is the derivative of a single-valued holomorphic function exactly when its integrals around all closed curves vanish. A primitive then has real part $u$ after adjusting a real constant. Simply connected domains satisfy this condition; on an annulus $u=\log |z|$ fails because the derivative has period $2\pi i$.

For $|z|>1$, both logarithms in the display can use their principal logarithms. The real part is $\log (|z+1{|}^2/|z-1{|}^2)$ and the derivative is $2/(z+1)-2/(z-1)$. The two residues cancel on a loop surrounding both points. Equivalently $f=4{\sum }_{m\ge 0}{z}^{-(2m+1)}/(2m+1)$ is globally single-valued outside the unit circle, although individual logarithms of $z+1$ and $z-1$ are not.

// Destination: complex-dynamics.bigb

If $u+iv$ and $p+iq$ are holomorphic functions, with the image of the first inside the domain of the second, then $p(u,v)+iq(u,v)$ is holomorphic by the chain rule. Directly, their Cauchy-Riemann equations imply $[p(u,v){]}_x=[q(u,v){]}_y$ and $[p(u,v){]}_y=-[q(u,v){]}_x$. Differentiating these relations proves harmonicity of both parts. No nonvanishing derivative hypothesis is required.

On a domain carrying a branch of the complex logarithm, the holomorphic function $-i\mathrm{Log}z$ has real part equal to the chosen angle and imaginary part $-\log |z|$. These are harmonic conjugates; their level sets are rays and circles, meeting orthogonally. For the principal real arctangent $\varphi =\arctan (y/x)$, its domain has the two components $x>0$ and $x<0$. The corresponding holomorphic functions are $-i\mathrm{Log}z$ and $-i\mathrm{Log}(-z)$, using the complex logarithm on the right half-plane. This formulation does not assert a globally single-valued angle on the punctured plane.

On a disc, the closed one-form $-u_{y}dx+u_{x}dy$ has a potential $v$ when $\Delta u=0$. The Cauchy--Riemann equations then make $u+iv$ holomorphic.

The function $\log |z|$ is harmonic on the punctured complex plane, but it is not globally the real part of a holomorphic function there. Such a function would have derivative $1/z$, whose integral around the unit circle is $2\pi i$, whereas the integral of a derivative around a closed curve is zero.