Aufgaben:Problem 1
Contents
Part a)
Prove that, if \(f\) is an elliptic function, then \(f\) is constant if and only if \(f\) has no poles.
Solution part a)
Definition (elliptic function): A function \(f\) is called elliptic if it has the following two properties:
(a) \(f\) is doubly periodic.
(b) \(f\) is meromorphic (its only singularities in the finite plane are poles).
(Taken from Apostol, 1.4)
Liouville's theorem: If \(f\) is holomorph on \( \mathbb{C} \) and bounded, then \(f\) is constant.
To prove: Let \(f\) be an elliptic function: \(f\) is constant \(\Leftrightarrow\) \(f\) has no poles.
\( "\Rightarrow" \) Let \(f\) be constant on \( \mathbb{C} \) \( \rightarrow f\) has no poles.
\( "\Leftarrow" \) Let \(P\) be the fundamental region to \(f\), where \(f\) is elliptic and has no poles.
\( f(\mathbb{C}) = f(P) \) is compact and thus bounded. Because \(f\) is both holomorph and bounded on \(\mathbb{C}\), Liouville's theorem tells us that \(f\) has to be a constant function. \(\square\)
Part b)
\( \vdash: \) Let \( Q = \left[ 0, 1\right] \times \left[ 0, 1 \right] \subset \mathbb{C} \) be the unit square, and let \( f \) be a holomorphic function on a neighborhood of \( Q \). Suppose further that \( f( z + i) - f(z) \in \mathbb{R}_{\geq 0} \) for any \( z \in \left[ 0, 1 \right] \) and \( f( z + 1) - f(z) \in \mathbb{R}_{\geq 0} \) for any \( z \in \left[ 0, i \right] \). Then \(f\) is constant.
Proof
We write \( z = x + iy \) and \( f(x + iy) = u(x,y) + i v(x,y) \) where \( u, v \) are real valued functions. By assumption we get:
$$ \forall y \in \left[ 0, 1 \right] : v(1, y) = v(0, y) $$
$$ \forall x \in \left[ 0, 1 \right] : v(x, 0) = v(x, 1) $$
Since \( f \) is holomorphic, \( v \) is a harmonic function. We can harmonically and doubly-periodically continue \( v \) to \( v : \mathbb{C} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} \). Furthermore \( v(Q) = v(\mathbb{C}) \) and since \( Q \) is compact we have \( \forall z \in \mathbb{C} \left| v (z) \right| \leq M \) for some \( M \in \mathbb{R} \). We now apply Liouville's theorem for harmonic functions and get \( v \equiv const \).
From the Cauchy-Riemann equations it follows immediately that also \( u \) has to be constant. \( \square \)
Liouville's theorem for harmonic functions: Let \( \lambda : \mathbb{C} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} \) be a harmonic function and \( \forall z \in \mathbb{C} \left| \lambda (z) \right| \leq M \) for some \( M \in \mathbb{R} \). Then \( \lambda \) is constant.
Proof.
In Complex Analysis by Th. Gamelin, Chapter 3, Section 4, we have the following property of a harmonic function \( \lambda \):
Let \( B_r(z_0) \) be the ball of radius \( r \) around \( z_0 \in \mathbb{C} \). Then:
$$ \lambda (z_0) = \int_{0}^{2\pi} \lambda ( z_0 + re^{i\theta} ) \frac{d\theta}{2\pi} $$
(Still working on that...)
