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Lecture 13

This document provides a proof of the general form of Cauchy's theorem. It begins by defining what it means for a closed curve to be homologous to 0 with respect to an open set. It then states that if a region is simply connected and a closed curve is within the region, then the curve is homologous to 0. The proof defines a function g that is continuous and holomorphic, and uses this to define another function h. It then shows that h is holomorphic and equals 0, proving Cauchy's integral formula. Finally, it uses the integral formula to prove Cauchy's theorem.

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19 views5 pages

Lecture 13

This document provides a proof of the general form of Cauchy's theorem. It begins by defining what it means for a closed curve to be homologous to 0 with respect to an open set. It then states that if a region is simply connected and a closed curve is within the region, then the curve is homologous to 0. The proof defines a function g that is continuous and holomorphic, and uses this to define another function h. It then shows that h is holomorphic and equals 0, proving Cauchy's integral formula. Finally, it uses the integral formula to prove Cauchy's theorem.

Uploaded by

iangarvins
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MIT OpenCourseWare

http://ocw.mit.edu

18.112 Functions of a Complex Variable


Fall 2008

For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.
Lecture 13: The General Cauchy Theorem

(Replacing Text 137-148)

Here we shall give a brief proof of the general form of Cauchy’s Theorem.
(cf: John D. Dixon, A brief proof of Cauchy’s integral theorem, Proc. Amer. Math.
Soc. 29, (1971) 625-626.)

Definition 1 A closed curve ζ in an open set � is homologous to 0 (written


ζ � 0) with respect to � if
n(ζ, a) = 0 for all a ∩
/ �.

Definition 2 A region is simply connected if its complement with respect to the


extended plane is connected.

Remark: If � is simply connected and ζ → � a closed curve, then ζ � 0 with


respect to �. In fact, n(ζ, z) is constant in each component of C − ζ, hence constant
in C − � and is 0 for z sufficiently large.

Theorem 1 (Cauchy’s Theorem) If f is analytic in an open set �, then


⎩
f (z) dz = 0
�

for every closed curve ζ → � such that ζ � 0.


⎨
In particular, if � is simply connected then � f (z) dz = 0 for every closed ζ → �.

We shall first prove

Theorem 2 (Cauchy’s Integral Formula) Let f be holomorphic in an open set


�. Then
1 f (�)
⎩
n(ζ, z)f (z) = d� (1)
2�i � � − z
where ζ � 0 with respect to �.

1
Proof: The prove is based on the following three claims.
Define g(z, �) on � × � by
� f (�)−f (z)
� �−z for z=∪ �,
g(z, �) =
f (z) for z = �.
� �

Claim 1: g is continuous on � × � and holomorphic in each variable and g(z, �) =


g(�, z).
Clearly g is continuous outside the diagonal in � × �. Let (z0 , z0 ) be a point on
the diagonal and D → � a disk with center z0 . Let z ∪= � in D. Then by Theorem 8
1
g(z, �) − g(z0 , z0 ) = f � (�) + f2 (z)(z − �) − f � (z0 ).
2
So the continuous at (z0 , z0 ) is obvious.
For the holomorphy statement, it is clear that for each �0 ∩ � the function

z ⊂� g(z, �0 )

is holomorphic on � − �0 . Since

lim g(z, �0 )(z − �0 ) = 0


z��0

the point �0 is a removable singularity (Theorem 7, p.124), so

z ⊂� g(z, �0 )

is indeed holomorphic on �. This proves Claim 1.

Let
�� = {z ∩ C − (ζ) : n(ζ, z) = 0}.
Define function h on C by

1
⎩
h(z) = g(z, �) d�, z ∩ �; (2)
2�i �

1 f (�)
⎩
h(z) = d�, z ∩ �� . (3)
2�i � � −z
Since both expression agree on � ≡ �� and since � ∼ �� = C, this is a valid definition.

Claim 2: h is holomorphic.
This is obvious on the open sets �� and � − ζ. To show holomorphy at z0 ∩ ζ,
consider a disk D → � with center z0 . Let � be any closed curve in D. Then
⎩ �⎩ ⎧
1
⎩
h(z) dz = g(z, �) d� dz
� 2�i � �
⎩ �⎩ ⎧
1
= g(z, �) dz d�.
2�i � �

For each �,
z ⊂� g(z, �)
is holomorphic on D (even �). So by the Cauchy’s theorem for disks,
⎩
g(z, �) dz = 0.
�

Now the Morera’s Theorem implies h is holomorphic.

Now we can prove:


Claim 3: h � 0, so (1) holds.
We have z ∩ �� for |z| sufficiently large. So by (3),

lim h(z) = 0.
z��

By Liouville’s Theorem, h � 0. Q.E.D.

3
Proof of Theorem 1: To derive Cauchy’s theorem, let z0 ∩ � − ζ and put

F (z) = (z − z0 )f (z).

By (1),

1 1 F (z)
⎩ ⎩
f (z) dz = dz
2�i � 2�i � z − z0
= n(ζ, z0 )F (z0 )
= 0.
Q.E.D.

Note finally that Corollary 2 on p.142 is an immediately consequence of Cauchy’s


Theorem.

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