82 CHAPTER 2 • COMPLEX FUNCTIONS
v
w=f,/..z)
x
z=w'
Figure 2. 19
l
The branch J .. off (z) = z~.
The corresponding branch, denoted f oo is
(2-30)
where z = rei^9 # 0 and a<(}:::; a+ 211".
The branch cut for f 0 is the ray r ~ 0, (} = a, which includes the origin.
The point z = 0, common to all branch cuts for the multivalued square root
function, is called a bra nch point. The mapping w = f 0 (z) and its branch cut
are illustrated in Figure 2.19.
2.4.1 The Riemann Surface for w = z4
A Riemann surface is a construct useful for visualizing a multivalued function.
It was introduced by G. F. B. Riemann (1826-1866) in 1851. The idea is
ingenious-a geometric construction that permits surfaces to be the domain or
range of a multivalued function. Riemann surfaces depend on the function being
investigated. We now give a nontechnical formulation of the Riemann surface
for the multivalued square root function.
Consider w = f (z) = z~, which has two values for any z # 0. Each function
Ji and f2 in Figure 2.18 is single-valued on the domain formed by cutting the z
plane along the negative x-axis. Let Di and D2 be the domains of Ji and h,
respectively. The range set for fi is the set H i consisting of the right half-plane,
and the positive v-ax.is; the range set for h is the set H2 consisting of the left
half-plane and the negative v-axis. The sets H1 and H2 are "glued together"
along the positive v-ax.is and the negative v-ax.is to form the w plane with the
origin deleted.
We stack Di directly above D 2. The edge of Di in the upper half-plane
is joined to the edge of D 2 in the lower half-plane, and the edge of D 1 in the
lower half-plane is joined to the edge of D 2 in the upper half-plane. When these
domains are glued together in this manner, they form R, which is a Riemann
surface domain for the mapping w = f ( z) = z ~. The portions of Di, D 2 , and
R that lie in {z: lzl < 1} are shown in Figure 2.20.