Argument of a complex expression

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around computing the argument of a complex expression given by the equation $$\frac{r-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}$$. Participants are exploring different methods to derive the argument, denoted as ##\Phi##, and are comparing two forms of the expression that yield different results.

Discussion Character

  • Mixed

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Some participants attempt to separate the real and imaginary parts of the expression by multiplying by the complex conjugate of the denominator. Others suggest using Euler's formula to rewrite the expression in a different form. There are questions about the correctness of the methods and the reasons for discrepancies in the results obtained from different approaches.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their attempts and questioning the validity of different methods. Some guidance has been offered regarding the manipulation of the expression, but there is no explicit consensus on the correct approach or resolution of the discrepancies noted.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that one of the expressions is not an equation, and there is a mention of a potential error in the denominator of one of the derived forms. The discussion includes considerations of assumptions and the implications of different mathematical manipulations.

roam
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Homework Statement
What is the correct way of computing the argument of the following equation?
Relevant Equations
I am trying to compute the argument ##\Phi## of the equation

$$\frac{r-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)} \tag{1}$$

which using Euler's equation can also be written in the form

$$\exp\left[i\left(\pi+\varphi\right)\right]\frac{\tau-r\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)} \tag{2}$$
Problem Statement: What is the correct way of computing the argument of the following equation?
Relevant Equations: I am trying to compute the argument ##\Phi## of the equation

$$\frac{r-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)} \tag{1}$$

which using Euler's equation can also be written in the form

$$\exp\left[i\left(\pi+\varphi\right)\right]\frac{\tau-r\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)} \tag{2}$$

(1) If we use the first equation, we can first separate out the real and imaginary parts of the expression by multiplying by the complex conjugate of the denominator

$$\frac{r-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}.\frac{1-\tau r\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)}=\frac{r-\tau r^{2}\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)+\tau^{2}r}{1-\tau r\left[\exp\left(i\varphi\right)+\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)\right]+\left(\tau r\right)^{2}}$$

$$=\frac{r+\tau^{2}r-\tau\left(r^{2}+1\right)\cos\varphi}{1-\tau r\cos\varphi+\left(\tau r\right)^{2}}+i\frac{-\tau\left(1-r^{2}\right)\sin\varphi}{1-\tau r\cos\varphi+\left(\tau r\right)^{2}}.$$

Since, for a complex number ##z##, ##\text{arg}\left(z\right)=\text{atan }\left[\Im\left(z\right)/\Re\left(z\right)\right]##, we have:

$$\Phi=\text{atan}\left[\frac{-\tau\left(1-r^{2}\right)\sin\varphi}{r+\tau^{2}r-\tau\left(r^{2}+1\right)\cos\varphi}\right].$$

(2) However, the paper I am looking at used the second form (equation (2)), which readily gives:

$$\Phi=\pi+\varphi+\text{atan}\left(\frac{r\sin\varphi}{\tau-r\cos\varphi}\right)+\text{atan}\left(\frac{r\tau\sin\varphi}{1-r\tau\cos\varphi}\right).$$

Clearly, these two answers are very different. Which method is correct, and what is the cause of the discrepancy? Shouldn't we end up with the same expression for the argument regardless of the form we start with?

Any explanation is appreciated.
 
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roam said:
Problem Statement: What is the correct way of computing the argument of the following equation?
Relevant Equations: I am trying to compute the argument ##\Phi## of the equation

$$\frac{r-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)} \tag{1}$$
Minor point: this is not an equation.
roam said:
which using Euler's equation can also be written in the form

$$\exp\left[i\left(\pi+\varphi\right)\right]\frac{\tau-r\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)} \tag{2}$$
I would do something different -- replace ##\exp(i\phi)## in expression (1) by ##\cos(\phi) + i\sin(\phi)##, and then multiply by the complex conjugate of the denominator ##(1 + \tau r \exp(i\phi))## over itself.
I haven't worked this through, but that's where I would start.
roam said:
(1) If we use the first equation, we can first separate out the real and imaginary parts of the expression by multiplying by the complex conjugate of the denominator

$$\frac{r-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}.\frac{1-\tau r\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)}=\frac{r-\tau r^{2}\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)+\tau^{2}r}{1-\tau r\left[\exp\left(i\varphi\right)+\exp\left(-i\varphi\right)\right]+\left(\tau r\right)^{2}}$$

$$=\frac{r+\tau^{2}r-\tau\left(r^{2}+1\right)\cos\varphi}{1-\tau r\cos\varphi+\left(\tau r\right)^{2}}+i\frac{-\tau\left(1-r^{2}\right)\sin\varphi}{1-\tau r\cos\varphi+\left(\tau r\right)^{2}}.$$

Since, for a complex number ##z##, ##\text{arg}\left(z\right)=\text{atan }\left[\Im\left(z\right)/\Re\left(z\right)\right]##, we have:

$$\Phi=\text{atan}\left[\frac{-\tau\left(1-r^{2}\right)\sin\varphi}{r+\tau^{2}r-\tau\left(r^{2}+1\right)\cos\varphi}\right].$$

(2) However, the paper I am looking at used the second form (equation (2)), which readily gives:

$$\Phi=\pi+\varphi+\text{atan}\left(\frac{r\sin\varphi}{\tau-r\cos\varphi}\right)+\text{atan}\left(\frac{r\tau\sin\varphi}{1-r\tau\cos\varphi}\right).$$

Clearly, these two answers are very different. Which method is correct, and what is the cause of the discrepancy? Shouldn't we end up with the same expression for the argument regardless of the form we start with?

Any explanation is appreciated.
 
Mark44 said:
Minor point: this is not an equation.
I would do something different -- replace ##\exp(i\phi)## in expression (1) by ##\cos(\phi) + i\sin(\phi)##, and then multiply by the complex conjugate of the denominator ##(1 + \tau r \exp(i\phi))## over itself.
I haven't worked this through, but that's where I would start.

Hi @Mark44

I tried your suggestion:

$$z:=\frac{r-\tau\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}=\frac{r-\tau\left(\cos\varphi+i\sin\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}$$

Multiplying with the complex conjugate:

$$\frac{r-\tau\left(\cos\varphi+i\sin\varphi\right)}{1-\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}.\frac{1+\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}{1+\tau r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)}$$

$$=\frac{r+\tau r^{2}\exp\left(i\varphi\right)-\left[\tau+\tau^{2}r\exp\left(i\varphi\right)\right]\left(\cos\varphi+i\sin\varphi\right)}{1-\tau^{2}r^{2}\exp\left(2i\varphi\right)}$$

$$=\frac{r+\tau r^{2}\cos\varphi+i\tau r^{2}\sin\varphi-\tau-\tau^{2}r\cos\varphi-i\tau^{2}r\sin\varphi\cos\varphi+\tau^{2}r\sin^{2}\varphi}{1-\tau^{2}r^{2}\exp\left(2i\varphi\right)},$$

which gives:

##\Re\left(z\right)=\frac{r+\tau r^{2}\cos\varphi-\tau-\tau^{2}r\cos\varphi+\tau^{2}r\sin^{2}\varphi}{1-\tau^{2}r^{2}\exp\left(2i\varphi\right)}##
##\Im\left(z\right)=\frac{\tau r^{2}\sin\varphi-i\tau r\sin\varphi\cos\varphi}{1-\tau^{2}r^{2}\exp\left(2i\varphi\right)}##

Therefore,

$$\text{arg}\left(z\right)=\text{atan}\left(\frac{\tau r^{2}\sin\varphi-\tau^{2}r\sin\varphi\cos\varphi}{r+\tau r^{2}\cos\varphi-\tau-\tau^{2}r\cos\varphi+\tau^{2}r\sin^{2}\varphi}\right).$$

Is this reducible to the form for ##\Phi## given in my post #1? I am not sure how it can be manipulated further.
 
roam said:
$$=\frac{r+\tau^{2}r-\tau\left(r^{2}+1\right)\cos\varphi}{1-\tau r\cos\varphi+\left(\tau r\right)^{2}}+i\frac{-\tau\left(1-r^{2}\right)\sin\varphi}{1-\tau r\cos\varphi+\left(\tau r\right)^{2}}.$$
I think this is correct except for a 2 in the denominator that doesn't affect the result.
 

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