Cousin problems

In mathematics, the Cousin problems are two questions in several complex variables, concerning the existence of meromorphic functions that are specified in terms of local data. They were introduced in special cases by Pierre Cousin in 1895. They are now posed, and solved, for any complex manifold M, in terms of conditions on M.

For both problems, an open cover of M by sets U_i is given, along with a meromorphic function f_i on each U_i.

First Cousin problem

The first Cousin problem or additive Cousin problem assumes that each difference

is a holomorphic function, where it is defined. It asks for a meromorphic function f on M such that

is holomorphic on U_i; in other words, that f shares the singular behaviour of the given local function. The given condition on the f_i − f_j is evidently necessary for this; so the problem amounts to asking if it is sufficient. The case of one variable is the Mittag-Leffler theorem on prescribing poles, when M is an open subset of the complex plane. Riemann surface theory shows that some restriction on M will be required. The problem can always be solved on a Stein manifold.