Möbius transformation

A Möbius transformation of the Riemann sphere has the formThe group is generated by translations, nonzero complex scalings, and inversion $z\mapsto 1/z$.

The special linear group $S{L}_2(\mathbb{R})$ acting by Möbius transformations has exactly three group orbits on the Riemann sphere: the extended real line and the two open half-planes. The identity $\mathrm{Im}((az+b)/(cz+d))=\mathrm{Im}z/|cz+d{|}^2$ preserves these sets. Upper triangular determinant-one matrices send $i$ to any prescribed point of the complex upper half-plane, and similarly send $-i$ through the lower half-plane. The stabilizer subgroups of $i$ and $-i$ are both $SO(2)$.

Two disjoint ordinary circle boundaries can be taken to distinct concentric circles by a Möbius transformation. After their centres are put at $0,d$ with radii $a,b$, the map $(z-s)/(z-t)$ works when $st=a^2$ and $s+t=(d^2+a^2-b^2)/d$. Disjointness makes the quadratic have distinct real roots. Already concentric circles require no transformation.

For four distinct points of the Riemann sphere, their cross-ratio iswith the evident limiting conventions at infinity. Every Möbius transformation preserves it.

For four vertices in cyclic order on a circle, the product of the diagonal lengths is the sum of the products of opposite side lengths. One proof uses the cross-ratio with second point mapped to zero: its negative sign gives $|r|+1=|1-r|$, which becomes the displayed length relation.

Every Möbius transformation preserves the cross-ratio. The identity $M(u)-M(v)=(ad-bc)(u-v)/[(cu+d)(cv+d)]$ makes all extra factors cancel in the ratio; limiting conventions handle points at infinity.

This cross-ratio convention is the value of $z_3$ under the Möbius transformation sending $z_1,z_2,z_4$ to $1,0,\infty$. It is one minus the convention $(z_1-z_3)(z_2-z_4)/[(z_1-z_2)(z_3-z_4)]$. Exchanging the first two points replaces $r$ by $1-r$. For four points in cyclic order on a circle, this convention gives $r<0$ and $1-r>1$.

Normalize three distinct points of the Riemann sphere by a Möbius transformation $f$ sending them to $\infty ,0,1$. A fourth point lies on their generalized circle exactly when $f$ takes a real value there: the image of that generalized circle is the extended real line. Other standard cross-ratio ordering conventions differ by real fractional-linear transformations and preserve this reality criterion.

A generalized circle is either a Euclidean circle or a straight line together with the point at infinity. Every Möbius transformation maps generalized circles to generalized circles. A Euclidean circle becomes a line exactly when it contains the pole, the preimage of infinity.

The transformations that take every Euclidean circle to a Euclidean circle are preciselyThey form the stabilizer of infinity in the Möbius group and are not a normal subgroup.

A fixed point of a Möbius transformation satisfies a quadratic equation on the Riemann sphere.

For $f(z)=(az+b)/(z+1)$, the finite fixed points are the roots ofThus a repeated fixed point or two prescribed fixed points determine $a$ and $b$ by the usual sum and product of roots.

Every nonidentity finite-order Möbius transformation has exactly two fixed points on the Riemann sphere. A transformation with one repeated fixed point is conjugate to a nontrivial translation and therefore has infinite order.

A condition $\arg ((z-z_1)/(z-z_2))=\theta$ fixes the oriented angle subtended by $z_1,z_2$. Its locus is an arc of a circle through those two points, with the endpoints excluded.

For determinant-one real representatives, trace magnitude below, equal to, or above two gives elliptic, parabolic, or hyperbolic type.

The Möbius transformations commuting with $J(z)=1/\overline{z}$ are exactlyThey preserve the open unit disc exactly when $|a|>|b|$. The identityproves the latter assertion.