The complex logarithm, exponential and power （复杂的对数、指数和权力）.pdf

Physics 116A Winter 2011 The complex logarithm, exponential and power functions In these notes, we examine the logarithm, exponential and power functions, where the arguments∗ of these functions can be complex numbers. In particular, we are interested in how their properties differ from the properties of the corresponding real-valued functions.† 1. Review of the properties of the argument of a complex number Before we begin, I shall review the properties of the argument of a non-zero complex number z, denoted by arg z (which is a multi-valued function), and the principal value of the argument, Arg z, which is single-valued and conventionally defined such that: −π Arg z ≤ π . (1) Details can be found in the class handout entitled, The argument of a complex number. Here, we recall a number of results from that handout. One can regard arg z as a set consisting of the following elements, arg z = Arg z + 2πn , n = 0 , ±1 , ±2 , ±3 , . . . , −π Arg z ≤ π . (2) One can also express Arg z in terms of arg z as follows: Arg z = arg z + 2π 1 − arg z , (3) 2 2π where [ ] denotes the greatest integer function. That is, [x] is defined to be the largest integer less than or equal to the real number x. Consequently, [x] is the unique integer that satisfies the inequality x − 1 [x] ≤ x , for real x and integer [x] . (4) ∗Note that the word argument has two distinct meanings. In this context, given a function w = f (z), we say that z is the argument of the function f . This should not be confused with the argument of a complex number, arg z . †The following