Chapter 6
The Mobius transformation
By: Habtamu G (Assistant Professor)
Email: habte200@[Link]
Ch20_1
Contents
6.1 Examples of mapping by functions
6.2 Magnification, translation, and rotation
6.3 The map w=1/z
6.4 Definition of Mobius transformation and basic
properties
6.5 The cross –ratios
Ch20_2
6.1 Complex Functions as Mappings
Introduction
The complex function w = f(z) = u(x, y) + iv(x, y)
may be considered as the planar transformation. We
also call w = f(z) is the image of z under f. See Fig 6.1.
Ch20_3
Fig 6.1
Ch20_4
Example 1
Consider the function f(z) = ez. If z = a + it, 0 t ,
w = f(z) = eaeit. Thus this is a semicircle with center
w = 0 and radius r = ea. If z = t + ib, − t , w =
f(z) = eteib. Thus this is a ray with Arg w = b, |w| = et.
See Fig 20.2.
Ch20_5
Fig 6.2
Ch20_6
Example 2
The complex function f = 1/z has domain z 0 and
x
real part : u ( x, y ) 2
x y2
y
imaginary part : v( x, y ) 2
x y2
When a 0, u ( x, y ) a can be written as
1 1 2 1 2
x x y 0, ( x ) y ( )
2 2 2
a 2a 2a
Ch20_7
Cont’d
Likewise v(x, y) = b, b 0 can be written as
1 2 1 2
x (y ) ( )
2
2b 2b
See Fig 6.3.
Ch20_8
Fig 6.3
Ch20_9
Translation and Rotation
The function f(z) = z + z0 is interpreted as a
translation. The function g ( z ) ei0 z is interpreted
as a rotation. See Fig 6.4.
Ch20_10
Example 3
Find a complex function that maps −1 y 1 onto 2 x
4.
Solution
See Fig 6.5. We find that −1 y 1 is first rotated
through 90 and shifted 3 units to the right. Thus the
mapping is
h( z ) ei / 2 z 3 iz 3
Ch20_11
Fig 6.5
Ch20_12
Magnification
A magnification is the function f(z) = z, where is a
fixed positive real number. Note that |w| = |z| = |z|.
If g(z) = az + b and a r0ei0 then the vector is
rotated through 0, magnified by a factor r0, and then
translated using b.
Ch20_13
Example 4
Find a complex function that maps the disk |z| 1 onto
the disk |w – (1 + i)| ½.
Solution
Magnified by ½ and translated to 1 + i, we can have the
desired function as w = f(z) = ½z + (1 + i).
Ch20_14
Power Functions
A complex function f(z) = z where is a fixed
positive number, is called a real power function. See
Fig 6.6. If z = rei, then w = f(z) = rei.
Ch20_15
Example 5
Find a complex function that maps the upper half-plane
y 0 onto the wedge 0 Arg w /4.
Solution
The upper half-plane can also be described by 0 Arg
w . Thus f(z) = z1/4 will map the upper half-plane onto
the wedge 0 Arg w /4.
Ch20_16
Successive Mapping
See Fig 6.7. If = f(z) maps R onto R, and w = g()
maps R onto R, w = g(f(z)) maps R onto R.
Ch20_17
Fig 6.7
Ch20_18
Example 6
Find a complex function that maps 0 y onto the
wedge 0 Arg w /4.
Solution
We have shown that f(z) = ez maps 0 y onto to 0
Arg and g() = 1/4 maps 0 Arg onto 0
Arg w /4. Thus the desired mapping is w = g(f(z)) =
g(ez) = ez/4.
Ch20_19
Example 7
Find a complex function that maps /4 Arg z 3/4
onto the upper half-plane v 0.
Solution
First rotate /4 Arg z 3/4 by = f(z) = e-i/4z. Then
magnify it by 2, w = g() = 2. Thus the desired
mapping is w = g(f(z)) = (e-i/4z)2 = -iz2.
Ch20_20
6.2 Conformal Mappings
Angle –Preserving Mappings
A complex mapping w = f(z) defined on a domain D
is called conformal at z = z0 in D when f preserves
that angle between two curves in D that intersect at z0.
See Fig 6.10.
Ch20_21
Fig 6.10
Ch20_22
Referring to Fig 6.10, we have
' 2 ' 2 ' 2
z1' z2 z1 z2 2 z1' z2' cos
z' 2 z' 2 z' z' 2
1 1 2
or cos
2 1
(1)
' '
2 z1 z2
Likewise
w' 2 w' 2 w' w' 2
1 1 2
cos
2 1
(2)
2 w1' w2'
Ch20_23
THEOREM 20.1
Conformal Mapping
If f(z) is analytic in the domain D and f’(z) 0, then
f is conformal at z = z0.
Proof
If a curve C in D is defined by z = z(t), then w = f(z(t)) is
the image curve in the w-plane. We have
w f ( z (t )), w' f ' ( z (t )) z ' (t )
If C1 and C2 intersect at z = z0, then
w1' f ' ( z0 ) z1' , w2' f ' ( z0 ) z2'
Ch20_24
Proof Cont’d
Since f (z0) 0, we can use (2) to obtain
f '(z )z' 2 f '(z )z' 2 f '(z )z' f '(z )z' 2
1 0 2
cos
0 1 0 2 0 1
2 f ' ( z0 ) z1' f ' ( z0 ) z2'
z' 2 z' 2 z' z' 2
1 1 2
2 1
cos
' '
2 z1 z2
Ch20_25
Example 1
(a) The analytic function f(z) = ez is conformal at all
points, since f (z) = ez is never zero.
(b) The analytic function g(z) = z2 is conformal at all
points except z = 0, since g(z) = 2z 0, for z 0.
Ch20_26
Example 2
The vertical strip −/2 x /2 is called the
fundamental region of the trigonometric function
w = sin z. A vertical line x = a in the interior of the
region can be described by z = a + it, − t . We
find that
sin z = sin x cosh y + i cos x sinh y
and so u + iv = sin (a + it)
= sin a cosh t + i cos a sinh t.
Ch20_27
Cont’d
Since cosh2 t − sinh2 t = 1, then
u2 v2
2
2
1
sin a cos a
The image of the vertical line x = a is a hyperbola with
sin a as u-intercepts and since −/2 < a < /2, the
hyperbola crosses the u-axis between u = −1 and u = 1.
Note if a = −/2, then w = − cosh t, the line x = − /2 is
mapped onto the interval (−, −1]. Likewise, the line x
= /2 is mapped onto the interval [1, ).
Ch20_28
Example 3
The complex function f(z) = z + 1/z is conformal at all
points except z = 1 and z = 0. In particular, the
function is conformal at all points in the upper half-
plane satisfying |z| > 1. If z = rei, then
w = rei + (1/r)e-i, and so
1 1
u (r ) cos , v (r ) sin (3)
r r
Note if r = 1, then v = 0 and u = 2 cos . Thus the
semicircle z = eit, 0 t , is mapped onto [−2, 2] on
the u-axis. If r > 1, the semicircle z = reit, 0 t , is
mapped onto the upper half of the ellipse u2/a2 + v2/b2 =
1, where a = r + 1/r, b = r − 1/r. See Fig 6.12.
Ch20_29
Fig 6.12
Ch20_30
Cont’d
For a fixed value of , the ray tei, for t 1, is mapped
to the point u2/cos2 − v2/sin2 = 4 in the upper half-
plane v 0. This follows from (3) since
2 2 2 2
u v 1 1
2 t t 4
cos sin t t
2
Since f is conformal for |z| > 1 and a ray = 0
intersects a circle |z| = r at a right angle, the hyperbolas
and ellipses in the w-plane are orthogonal.
Ch20_31
THEOREM 6.2
Transformation Theorem for
Harmonic Functions
If f be an analytic function that maps a domain D onto
a domain D. If U is harmonic in D, then the real-valued
function u(x, y) = U(f(z)) is harmonic in D.
Ch20_32
Cont’d
Proof
We will give a special proof for the special case in
which D is simply connected. If U has a harmonic
conjugate V in D, then H = U + iV is analytic in D, and
so the composite function H(f(z)) = U(f(z)) + iV(f(z)) is
analytic in D. It follow that the real part U(f(z)) is
harmonic in D.
Ch20_33
Solving Dirichlet Problems Using Conformal
Mapping
Solving Dirichlet Problems Using Conformal
Mapping
1. Find a conformal mapping w = f(z) that transform
s the original region R onto the image R. The
region R may be a region for which many
explicit solutions to Dirichlet problems are
known.
2. Transfer the boundary conditions from the R to
the boundary conditions of R. The value of u at a
boundary point of R is assigned as the value of
U at the corresponding boundary point f().
Ch20_34
Fig 6.13
Ch20_35
3. Solve the Dirichlet problem in R. The solution
may be apparent from the simplicity of the
problem in R or may be found using Fourier or
integral transform methods.
4. The solution to the original Dirichlet problems is
u(x, y) = U(f(z)).
Ch20_36
Example 6
The function U(u, v) = (1/) Arg w is harmonic in the
upper half-plane v > 0 since it is the imaginary part of
the analytic function g(w) = (1/) Ln w. Use this
function to solve the Dirichlet problem in Fig 6.14(a).
Ch20_37
Fig 6.14
Ch20_38
Cont’d
Solution
The analytic function f(z) = sin z maps the original
region to the upper half-plane v 0 and maps the
boundary segments to the segments shown in Fig
6.14(b). The harmonic function U(u, v) = (1/) Arg w
satisfies the transferred boundary conditions U(u, 0) = 0
for u > 0 and U(u, 0) = 1 for u < 0.
1 1 cos x sinh y
u ( x, y ) tan
sin x cosh y
Ch20_39
A favorite image region R for a simply connected
region R is the upper half-plane y 0. For any real
number a, the complex function
Ln(z – a) = loge|z – a| + i Arg (z – a)
is analytic in R and is a solution to the Dirichlet
problem shown in Fig 6.16.
Ch20_40
Fig 6.16
Ch20_41
It follows that the solution in R to the Dirichlet
problem with
c0 , a x b
U ( x, 0)
0, otherwise
is the harmonic function
U(x, y) = (c0/)(Arg(z – b) – Arg(z – a))
Ch20_42
6.3 Linear Fractional Transformations
Linear Fractional Transformation
If a, b, c, d are complex constants with ad – bc 0,
then the function
az b
T ( z)
cz d
is called a llinear fractional transformation. Since
ad bc
T '( z)
(cz d ) 2
Ch20_43
T is conformal at z provided
= ad – bc 0 and z −d/c.
Note when c 0, T(z) has a simple zero at z0 = −d/c,
and so
lim T ( z ) ,
z z0
We will write T ( z0 ) . In addition, if c 0, then
a b/ z a
lim T ( z ) lim ,
z z c d / z c
and we write T () a / c.
Ch20_44
Example 1
If T(z) = (2z + 1)/(z – i), compute T(0), T(), T(i).
Solution
T (0) 1 /(i ) i, T () lim T ( z ) 2,
z
T (i ) lim T ( z ) , T (i )
z i
Ch20_45
Circle Preserving Property
If c = 0, the transformation reduces to a linear
function T(z) = Az + B. This is a composition of a
rotation, magnification, and translation. As such, a
linear function will map a circle in the z-plane to a
circle in the w-plane. When c 0,
az b bc ad 1 c
w (1)
cz d c cz d a
Ch20_46
bc ad a
Letting A , B , T ( z ) can be written as
c c
1
z1 cz d , z2 , w Az2 B (2)
z1
1
Note that if z z1 r , w , then
z
1 1 w w1
r or w w1 (r w1 ) w 0 (3)
w w1 w w1
Ch20_47
It is easy to show that all points w that satisfy
w w1 w w2 (4)
is a line when = 1 and is a circle when > 0 and
1. It follows from (3) that the image of the circle
|z – z1| = r under the inversion w = 1/z is a circle
except when r = 1/|w1| = |z1|.
Ch20_48
THEOREM 20.3
Circle-Preserving Property
A linear fractional transformation maps a circle in the
z-plane to either a line or a circle in the w-plane. The
image is a line if and only if the original circle passes
through a pole of the linear fractional transformation.
Ch20_49
Example 2
Find the images of the circles |z| = 1 and |z| = 2 under
T(z) = (z + 2)/(z – 1). What are the images of the
interiors of these circles?
Solution
The circle |z| = 1 passes through the pole z0 = 1 of the
linear transformation and so the image is a line. Since
T(−1) = −½ and T(i) = −(1/2) – (3/2)i, we conclude that
the line is u = −½.
Ch20_50
Cont’d
The image of the interior |z| = 1 is either the half-plane
u < −½ or the half-plane u > −½. Using z = 0 as a test
point, T(0) = −2 and so the image is the half-plane u <
−½.
The circle |z| = 2 does not pass through the pole so the
image is a circle. For |z| = 2,
z2 z 2
z 2, T ( z ) T (z)
z 1 z 1
Ch20_51
Example 2 (2)
Therefore T ( z ) is a point on the image circle
and the image circle is symmetric w.r.t. the u - axis.
Since T(−2) = 0 and T(2) = 4 the center of the circle is w
= 2 and the image is the circle |w – 2| = 2. The interior
of |z| = 2 is either the interior or the exterior of the
image |w – 2| = 2. Since T(0) = −2, we conclude that the
image is |w – 2| > 2. See Fig 6.33.
Ch20_52
Fig 6.33
Ch20_53
Matrix Methods
We associate the matrix
a b az b
A with T ( z )
c d cz d
a1 z b1 a2 z b2
If T1 ( z ) , T2 ( z ) ,
c1 z d1 c2 z d 2
az b
then T2 (T1 ( z )) is given by T ( z )
cz d
Ch20_54
where
a b a2 b2 a1 b1
(5)
c d c2 d 2 c1 d1
az b dw b
If w T ( z ) , then z
cz d cw a
1 dw b
that is, T ( w) , and the associated
cw a
d b
matrix is adj A (6)
c a
Ch20_55
Example 3
2z 1 z i
If T ( z ) and S ( z ) , find S -1 (T ( z )).
z2 iz 1
Solution
az b
Let S (T ( z ))
-1
, where
cz d
a b 1 i 2 1
adj
c d i 1 1 2
1 i 2 1 2 i 1 2i
, then
i 1 1 2 1 2i 2i
1 (2 i ) z 1 2i
S (T ( z ))
(1 2i ) z 2 i
Ch20_56
Triples to Triples
The linear fractional transformation
z z1 z2 z3
T ( z)
z z3 z2 z1
has a zero at z = z1, a pole at z = z3 and T(z2) = 1. Thus
T(z) maps three distinct complex numbers z1, z2, z3 to
0, 1, and , respectively. The term
z z1 z2 z3
The term is called the cross - ratio of
z z3 z2 z1
z , z1, z2 , z3.
Ch20_57
Likewise, the linear fractional transformation
w w1 w2 w3
S ( w)
w w3 w2 w1
sends w1, w2, w3 to 0, 1, and , and so S-1maps 0, 1,
and to w1, w2, w3. It follows that w = S-1(T(z)) maps
the triple z1, z2, z3 to the triples w1, w2, w3. From w =
S-1(T(z)), we have S(w) = T(z) and
w w1 w2 w3 z z1 z2 z3
(7)
w w3 w2 w1 z z3 z2 z1
Ch20_58
Example 4
Construct a linear fractional transformation that maps
the points 1, i, −1 on the circle |z| = 1 to the points −1, 0
and 1 on the real x-axis.
Solution
From (7) we get
w 1 0 1 z 1i 1 w 1 z 1
or i
w 1 0 (1) z 1 i 1 w 1 z 1
Solving for w, we get w = −i(z – i)/(z + i).
Ch20_59
Example 5
Construct a linear fractional transformation that maps
the points , 0, 1 on the real x-axis to the points 1, i, −1
on the circle |w| = 1.
Solution
Since z1 = , the terms z − z1 and z2 − z1 in the cross-
product are replaced by 1. Then
w 1i 1 1 0 1 w 1 1
or S ( w) i T ( z)
w 1i 1 z 1 1 w 1 z 1
Ch20_60
Cont’d
If we use the matrix method to find w = S-1(T(z)),
a b i i 0 1 i 1 i
adj
c d 1 1 1 1 i 1 i
iz 1 i z 1 i
and so w .
iz 1 i z 1 i
Ch20_61
Example 6
Solve the Dirichlet problem in Fig 6.35(a) using
conformal mapping by constructing a linear fractional
transformation that maps the given region into the upper
half-plane.
Ch20_62
Fig 6.35(a)
Ch20_63
Cont’d
Solution
The boundary circles |z| = 1 and |z – ½| = ½ each pass
through z = 1. We can map each boundary circle to a
line by selecting a linear fractional transformation that
has a pole at z = 1. If we require T(i) = 0 and T(-1) = 1,
then
z i 11 z i
T ( z) (1 i )
z 1 1 i z 1
Since T (0) 1 i, T ( 12 12 i) 1 i , T maps the interior
of |z| = 1 onto the upper half-plane and maps |z – ½| = ½
onto the line v = 1. See Fig 6.35(b).
Ch20_64
Example 6 (3)
The harmonic function U(u, v) = v is the solution to the
simplified Dirichlet problem in the w-plane, and so u(x,
y) = U(T(z)) is the solution to the original Dirichlet
problem in the z-plane.
z i
Since the imaginary part of T ( z ) (1 i ) is
z 1
1 x2 y 2 1 x2 y 2
, the solution is u ( x, y )
( x 1) y
2 2
( x 1) y
2 2
Ch20_65
Cont’d
The level curves u(x, y) = c can be written as
2 2
x c y2 1
1 c 1 c
and are therefore circles that pass through z = 1. See Fig
6.36.
Ch20_66
Fig 6.36
Ch20_67