Complex analysis/linear fractional transformation

In summary: The argument works because it shows that the only place for a boundary point to be sent is the boundary of the unit circle.
  • #1
arthurhenry
43
0
In the text by Joseph Bak,

He is trying to determine all automorphisms of the unit disk such that f(a)=0.
He says "let us suppose that this automorphism is a linear fractional transformation. Then it must map the unit circle onto the unit circle.

I am asking for help in understanding this deduction/conclusion.

Thank you
 
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  • #2
A linear fractional transformation (lft) takes circles to circles. Since the lft under consideration here is assumed to be an automorphism of the unit disk, it must take points inside the disk to points inside the disk (i.e. inversion in any circle inside the disk is ruled out), so it must take the unit circle to itself.

Alternatively, you can go the long route: starting from the formula $$z\mapsto f(z) = \frac{az+b}{cz+d}$$ (with ##ad-bc=1##, wlog), show that the stipulation ##|z|\leq1 \implies |f(z)|\leq1## puts some severe restrictions on what a,b,c,d could be. And then conclude that points with ##|z|=1## get mapped to points with ##|f(z)|=1##. This will be fairly messy though.
 
  • #3
I think I understand it now.
I think you are saying:
suppose p is a point inside the disk, i.e. an interior point. Take nbhd around p that is contained in the unit disk still. Then by Open Mapping Theorem, the image of this disk is open, i.e., the f(p) is also contained in a nbhd that is also inside the unit circle, so f(p) cannot be a boundary point. Since the LFT is injective, all interior points is taken as the images of interior points and the only place for a boundary point to be sent is the boundary.
Hope I am right...in the sense that I am not able conclude this without the Open mapping theorem.
 
  • #4
Your argument doesn't work because it doesn't explain why f takes the open disk onto itself.

I was just using the following facts: An lft takes a circle C_1 to a circle C_2, and takes the region inside of C_1 to either the region inside of C_2 or to the region outside of C_2. If it takes the interior of C_1 to the interior of C_2, it will take the exterior of C_1 to the exterior of C_2. A similar comment applies in the other case.

Now think about the situation in your proof: say f takes the unit circle C_1 to some circle C_2. Since f maps the interior of the unit circle (i.e. the open unit disk) onto itself, C_2 had better be the unit circle.
 
  • #5
Thank you, that has cleared things very nicely for me.
 

1. What is complex analysis?

Complex analysis is a branch of mathematics that deals with the study of complex numbers and functions. It involves the use of calculus and other mathematical tools to understand the behavior of complex-valued functions.

2. What is a linear fractional transformation?

A linear fractional transformation (LFT) is a mathematical function that maps a complex number to another complex number using a linear combination of its input. It can be represented in the form of (az + b)/(cz + d), where a, b, c, and d are complex numbers and z is the input.

3. What are the applications of complex analysis?

Complex analysis has various applications in science and engineering, including in fields such as fluid dynamics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and signal processing. It also has practical applications in computer graphics, image processing, and cryptography.

4. How is complex analysis related to real analysis?

Complex analysis is an extension of real analysis, which deals with the study of real numbers and functions. Both branches use similar mathematical tools such as calculus, but complex analysis also incorporates the concept of complex numbers and functions, making it more powerful and versatile.

5. What are some key theorems in complex analysis?

Some of the key theorems in complex analysis include the Cauchy-Riemann equations, the Cauchy integral theorem and formula, the maximum modulus principle, the residue theorem, and the fundamental theorem of algebra. These theorems are essential in understanding the behavior and properties of complex functions.

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