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Complex Integration

4.1 Contours

A contour (or piecewise smooth path) in C\mathbb{C} is a continuous function γ:[a,b]C\gamma : [a, b] \to \mathbb{C} that is differentiable except at finitely many points, with a Continuous derivative everywhere it exists.

A simple closed contour is a contour with γ(a)=γ(b)\gamma(a) = \gamma(b) and no other Self-intersections.

4.2 The Complex Integral

Definition. For a contour γ\gamma and a continuous function ff on γ\gamma:

γf(z)dz=abf(γ(t))γ"(t)dt\int_{\gamma} f(z)\, dz = \int_a^b f(\gamma(t))\gamma"(t)\, dt

4.3 Basic Properties

Proposition 4.1. The complex integral is linear:

γ(af+bg)dz=aγfdz+bγgdz\int_\gamma (af + bg)\, dz = a\int_\gamma f\, dz + b\int_\gamma g\, dz

Proposition 4.2. Reversing orientation changes the sign:

γfdz=γfdz\int_{-\gamma} f\, dz = -\int_\gamma f\, dz

Proposition 4.3. Additivity over contours:

γ1+γ2fdz=γ1fdz+γ2fdz\int_{\gamma_1 + \gamma_2} f\, dz = \int_{\gamma_1} f\, dz + \int_{\gamma_2} f\, dz

4.4 ML Inequality

Proposition 4.4 (ML Inequality). If f(z)M|f(z)| \leq M for all zz on a contour γ\gamma of length LLThen

γf(z)dzML\left|\int_\gamma f(z)\, dz\right| \leq ML

Proof. abf(γ(t))γ(t)dtabf(γ(t))γ(t)dtMabγ(t)dt=ML\left|\int_a^b f(\gamma(t))\gamma'(t)\, dt\right| \leq \int_a^b |f(\gamma(t))||\gamma'(t)|\, dt \leq M \int_a^b |\gamma'(t)|\, dt = ML. \blacksquare

4.5 Worked Examples: Contour Integrals

Solution

Problem. Evaluate γz2dz\int_\gamma z^2\, dz where γ\gamma is the line segment from 00 to 1+i1 + i.

Solution. Parameterize γ(t)=t(1+i)\gamma(t) = t(1 + i) for 0t10 \leq t \leq 1. Then γ(t)=1+i\gamma'(t) = 1 + i.

γz2dz=01(t(1+i))2(1+i)dt=(1+i)301t2dt=(1+i)313\int_\gamma z^2\, dz = \int_0^1 (t(1+i))^2 (1+i)\, dt = (1+i)^3 \int_0^1 t^2\, dt = (1+i)^3 \cdot \frac{1}{3}

(1+i)3=(1+i)(1+i)2=(1+i)(2i)=2i+2i2=2i2=2+2i(1+i)^3 = (1+i)(1+i)^2 = (1+i)(2i) = 2i + 2i^2 = 2i - 2 = -2 + 2i.

γz2dz=2+2i3\int_\gamma z^2\, dz = \frac{-2 + 2i}{3}. \blacksquare

Problem. Evaluate γzˉdz\int_\gamma \bar{z}\, dz where γ\gamma is the unit circle traversed once Counterclockwise.

γ(t)=eit\gamma(t) = e^{it}, 0t2π0 \leq t \leq 2\pi, γ(t)=ieit\gamma'(t) = ie^{it}. zˉ=eit\bar{z} = e^{-it} on γ\gamma.

γzˉdz=02πeitieitdt=02πidt=2πi\int_\gamma \bar{z}\, dz = \int_0^{2\pi} e^{-it} \cdot ie^{it}\, dt = \int_0^{2\pi} i\, dt = 2\pi i.

Note: Since zˉ\bar{z} is not analytic, this result is non-zero, as expected.

Problem. Evaluate γdzz\int_\gamma \frac{dz}{z} where γ\gamma is the upper semicircle z=eiθz = e^{i\theta}, 0θπ0 \leq \theta \leq \pi.

0πieiθeiθdθ=0πidθ=iπ\int_0^\pi \frac{ie^{i\theta}}{e^{i\theta}}\, d\theta = \int_0^\pi i\, d\theta = i\pi.

Problem. Evaluate γzdz\int_\gamma z\, dz where γ\gamma consists of the line segment from 00 to 11 followed by the line segment from 11 to 1+i1 + i.

γ1(t)=t\gamma_1(t) = t, 0t10 \leq t \leq 1: 01t1dt=12\int_0^1 t \cdot 1\, dt = \frac{1}{2}.

γ2(t)=1+it\gamma_2(t) = 1 + it, 0t10 \leq t \leq 1: 01(1+it)idt=01(it)dt=i12\int_0^1 (1 + it) \cdot i\, dt = \int_0^1 (i - t)\, dt = i - \frac{1}{2}.

Total: 12+i12=i\frac{1}{2} + i - \frac{1}{2} = i.

Check: Since zz is entire, the integral from 00 to 1+i1 + i is 12(1+i)2=i\frac{1}{2}(1+i)^2 = i. Consistent. \blacksquare

4.6 ML Inequality Applications

Solution

Problem. Use the ML inequality to show that limRCReizzdz=0\lim_{R \to \infty} \int_{C_R} \frac{e^{iz}}{z}\, dz = 0 Where CRC_R is the upper semicircle z=R|z| = R, Im(z)0\mathrm{Im}(z) \geq 0.

On CRC_R: z=Reiθz = Re^{i\theta}, 0θπ0 \leq \theta \leq \pi. eiz=eiR(cosθ+isinθ)=eRsinθ|e^{iz}| = |e^{iR(\cos\theta + i\sin\theta)}| = e^{-R\sin\theta}.

CReizzdz0πeRsinθRRdθ=0πeRsinθdθ\left|\int_{C_R} \frac{e^{iz}}{z}\, dz\right| \leq \int_0^\pi \frac{e^{-R\sin\theta}}{R} \cdot R\, d\theta = \int_0^\pi e^{-R\sin\theta}\, d\theta.

By Jordan’s inequality sinθ2θπ\sin\theta \geq \frac{2\theta}{\pi} for θ[0,π/2]\theta \in [0, \pi/2]:

20π/2e2Rθ/πdθ=πR(1eR)0\leq 2\int_0^{\pi/2} e^{-2R\theta/\pi}\, d\theta = \frac{\pi}{R}(1 - e^{-R}) \to 0 as RR \to \infty. \blacksquare

Problem. Bound γdzz2+4\left|\int_\gamma \frac{dz}{z^2 + 4}\right| where γ\gamma is z=3|z| = 3.

On γ\gamma: z2+4z24=94=5|z^2 + 4| \geq |z|^2 - 4 = 9 - 4 = 5 (reverse triangle inequality). So 1z2+415\left|\frac{1}{z^2 + 4}\right| \leq \frac{1}{5}.

Length of γ\gamma: L=2π3=6πL = 2\pi \cdot 3 = 6\pi.

γdzz2+4156π=6π5\left|\int_\gamma \frac{dz}{z^2 + 4}\right| \leq \frac{1}{5} \cdot 6\pi = \frac{6\pi}{5}.

4.7 Antiderivative Method

When ff is analytic on a connected domain and has a known antiderivative FF with F=fF' = f:

γf(z)dz=F(γ(b))F(γ(a))\int_\gamma f(z)\, dz = F(\gamma(b)) - F(\gamma(a))

This follows from the fundamental theorem of calculus applied to F(γ(t))F(\gamma(t)).

Solution

Problem. Evaluate γcoszdz\int_\gamma \cos z\, dz where γ\gamma is any path from 00 to π+i\pi + i.

Since cosz\cos z is entire with antiderivative sinz\sin z:

γcoszdz=sin(π+i)sin(0)=sin(π+i)\int_\gamma \cos z\, dz = \sin(\pi + i) - \sin(0) = \sin(\pi + i).

sin(π+i)=sinπcosh1+icosπsinh1=isinh1\sin(\pi + i) = \sin\pi\cosh 1 + i\cos\pi\sinh 1 = -i\sinh 1.

So the integral equals isinh1-i\sinh 1.

Problem. Evaluate γe2zdz\int_\gamma e^{2z}\, dz where γ\gamma is any path from 11 to ii.

Antiderivative: 12e2z\frac{1}{2}e^{2z}.

γe2zdz=12(e2ie2)\int_\gamma e^{2z}\, dz = \frac{1}{2}(e^{2i} - e^{2}).