Conjugate Harmonic Function: (or) Harmonic Conjugate Function:

If f(z) = u+iv be an analytic functions and u, v are harmonic functions, then u and v are said
to be conjugate harmonic functions.
u v
Note: We have f 1 ( z)  i
x x
u u
By C-R equations f 1 ( z )  i
x y
v v
f 1 ( z)  i
y x
v u
f 1 ( z)  i
y y

Finding harmonic conjugate of an analytic function when other part is given:

Milne – Thomson’s Method

Case I: When real part u = u(x,y) given, to find analytic function f(z) and imaginary
part v = v(x,y):
u u
Procedure: Step1: Consider f 1 ( z )  i
x y

Step2: Put x = z and y = 0 we get f 1 ( z ) in z.

Step3: Integrate f 1 ( z ) w.r.t. z. We get analytic function f(z).

Step4: To get imaginary part ‘v’ Put z = x+iy in f(z) and express as u+iv form.

Case II: When imaginary part v = v(x,y) given, to find analytic function f(z) and real
part u = u(x,y):
v v
Procedure: Step1: Consider f 1 ( z )  i
y x

Step2: Put x = z and y = 0 we get f 1 ( z ) in z.

Step3: Integrate f 1 ( z ) w.r.t. z. We get analytic function f(z).

Step4: To get real part ‘u’ Put z = x+iy in f(z) and express as u+iv form.

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Dr. K.S. Balamurugan, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Guntur, A.P.
Problems:

1. Determine the conjugate harmonic and analytic function whose real part is
x 3  3xy 2  3x 2  3 y 2  1

Sol: Given u  x 3  3xy 2  3x 2  3 y 2  1

u u
Consider f 1 ( z )  i
x y

f 1 ( z )  (3x 2  3 y 2  6 x)  i (6 xy  6 y )
Put x = z and y = 0
f 1 ( z )  3z 2  6 z

Integrating f ( z )  z 3  3z 2  c which is an analytic function.

Put z = x+iy
f ( z )  ( x  iy) 3  3( x  iy) 2  c

f ( z )  ( x 3  iy 3  3x 2 iy  3xy 2  3( x 2  y 2  i 2 xy)  c

f ( z )  ( x 3  3xy 2  3x 2  3 y 2 )  i ( y 3  3x 2 y  6 xy)  c

Let c  1  ic1

 f ( z )  ( x 3  3xy 2  3x 2  3 y 2  1)  i ( y 3  3x 2 y  6 xy  c1 )

Imaginary part v   y 3  3x 2 y  6 xy  c1

1
2. Show that u  log( x 2  y 2 ) is harmonic and find its harmonic conjugate function.
2
1
Sol: Given u  log( x 2  y 2 )
2

u 1 1 x  2 u  ( x 2  y 2 )  x(2 x)   y 2  x 2 

x 2 x  y
2x  2 and x 2   ( x 2  y 2 ) 2  2 2 2 
x  y2  (x  y ) 
2 2


u 1 1 y  2 u  ( x 2  y 2 )  y (2 y )   x 2  y 2 
 2y  2   2 2 2 
y 2 x 2  y 2 x  y 2 and y 2  (x2  y 2 )2  (x  y ) 
 2u  2u y2  x2 x2  y2
   0
x 2 y 2 ( x 2  y 2 ) 2 ( x 2  y 2 ) 2
u satisfies Laplace equation, hence u is harmonic function.
u u
Consider f 1 ( z )  i
x y

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Dr. K.S. Balamurugan, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Guntur, A.P.
 x y
f 1 ( z)  i 2
x y
2 2
x  y2

Put x = z and y = 0
1
f 1 ( z) 
z
Integrating f ( z )  log z  c which is an analytic function.
Put z = x+iy
f ( z )  log(x  iy)  c

 log(rei )  c

 log r  log e i  c

 log x 2  y 2  i  c

 log x 2  y 2  i tan 1 ( y / x)  c

 log x 2  y 2  i tan 1 ( y / x)  c

1
 log( x 2  y 2 )  i tan 1 ( y / x)  c
2
Imaginary part v  tan 1 ( y / x)  c

3. Determine the conjugate harmonic and analytic function whose imaginary part is
sinh x sin y
Sol: Given v  sinh x sin y
v v
Consider f 1 ( z )  i  f 1 ( z )  sinh x cos y  i cosh x sin y
y x

Put x = z and y = 0 f 1 ( z )  sinh z

Integrating f ( z )  cosh z  c which is an analytic function.
Put z = x+iy
f ( z )  cosh(x  iy)  c

We have cos(i )  cosh , sin(i )  i sinh 

f ( z )  cos i ( x  iy)  c
 cos(ix  y )  c
 (cosix) cos y  (sin ix) sin y  c  cosh x cos y  i sinh x sin y  c

Hence real part u  cosh x cos y  c .

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Dr. K.S. Balamurugan, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Guntur, A.P.
4. If u = ex [(x2- y2) cos y – 2xy sin y] is a real part of an analytic function find the analytic
function.
Sol: Given u = ex [(x2-y2) cos y – 2xy sin y]

= ex [ (x2-y2) cos y – 2xy sin y] + ex [ 2x cos y – 2y sin y]

= ex [-2y cos y - (x2-y2)sin y - 2x sin y -2xy cos y]

u u
Consider f 1 ( z )  i
x y
= ex [ (x2-y2) cos y – 2 x y sin y + 2x cos y – 2y sin y ]
– iex [ -2y cos y –(x2-y2) siny – 2x sin y – 2xy cos y]
Put x = z and y = 0
We get f 1 ( z )  z2 ez + 2zez
= ez (z2 + 2z)

 e  f ( x)  f 
( x) dx  e x f ( x)
x 1
Integrating on both sides we have

f(z) = ez z2 + c (or) f(z) = ez z2 + ic

sin 2 x
5. Find the analytic function whose real part is
cosh 2 y  cos 2 x
sin 2 x
Sol: Given real part u 
cosh 2 y  cos 2 x
u u
Consider f 1 ( z )  i
x y

Put x = z and y = 0

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Dr. K.S. Balamurugan, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Guntur, A.P.
6. Find the analytic function u–v = (x – y) (x2 + y2+ 4xy).
Sol:
Note: f(z) = u + iv - (1)
i f (z) = iu – v - (2)
(1)+(2)  (1+i) f (z) = (u-v) + i (u+v)
Let F(z) = U+ i V
Where F(z) = (1+i) f (z), U = (u-v) and V = (u+v)

Given real part U = (x – y) (x2 + y2+ 4xy)

U U
Consider F 1 ( z )  i
x y
= [(x – y) (2x+ 4y)+ (x2 + y2+ 4xy)]-i [(x – y) (2y+4x)- (x2 + y2+ 4xy)]
Put x = z and y = 0
F 1 ( z )  [(z) (2z)+ (z2 )]-i [(z) (4z)- z2 )] = 3z2-i 3z2 = 3z2(1-i )

Integrating F ( z )  z 3 (1  i)  c
put F(z) = (1+i) f (z),
(1  i ) f ( z )  z 3 (1  i )  c
1 i c (1  i ) 2  2i
f ( z)  z 3   z3  c1  z 3  c1  iz 3  c1
1 i 1 i (1  i )(1  i ) 2
c
Which is required analytic function f ( z )  iz 3  c1 where c1 
1 i

Home Assignment:
(9) Determine the analytic function and imaginary part if real part is Cosx Coshy.
(10) Find the regular function whose imaginary part is e x sin y.

cos sin x  e  y
(11) Determine the analytic function f(z) = u+iv if u  v  and f ( / 2)  0
2(cos x  cosh y )

2 sin 2 x
(12) Determine the analytic function f(z) = u+iv if u  v  .
e 2y
 e  2 y  2 cos 2 x

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Dr. K.S. Balamurugan, RVR & JC College of Engineering, Guntur, A.P.