What is the residue of exp(1/z) at z=0?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DrKareem
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Function Residue
Click For Summary
The residue of the function exp(1/z) at z=0 is being discussed, with the initial assumption that z=0 is a pole. The expansion in Laurent Series reveals that the coefficient of 1/z is 1, suggesting a residue of 1. However, it is clarified that z=0 is not a pole but an essential singularity, as the Laurent series contains all negative integer powers of z. Consequently, the residue is not defined for essential singularities, which explains the inapplicability of other methods for finding the residue. The discussion concludes with an acknowledgment of this important distinction in complex analysis.
DrKareem
Messages
101
Reaction score
1
Hi. I'm trying to find the residue of

\exp{\frac{1}{z}}

at z=0 since it is a pole, so I can integrate the function over the unit circle counterclockwise. I expanded this function in Laurent Series to get

\exp{\frac{1}{z}} = 1 + \frac{1}{1!z} + \frac{1}{2!z^2}+ ...

So in this case the residue is the coefficient of 1/z which is 1. Is this method correct? There is no answer to it in the book...

EDIT: If you guys can find the residue using another method, please teach me.
EDIT 2: Fixed the typo :p
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
Perfect, except you need z^(-2) in the 3rd term above (i'm sure you made a typo).
 
Oh yes it is a typo. Thanks for the input.
 
Except that z= 0 is NOT a pole for e1/z. A point is a "pole of order n" for function f(z) is znf(z) is analytic but no zkf(z) is analytic for k< n. In particular, the Laurent series for f(z) has no power of z less than -n. Since the Laurent series for e1/z has all negative integers as powers, z= 0 is an essential singularity, not a pole.
 
It's been a couple years since I took complex analysis, but yes, this seems like a perfectly accurate way to find the Laurent Series (and by consequence the residue as well).
 
Halls is correct. The residue is defined only for a pole of finite order, which you do not have.
 
Thank you HallsofIvy for clarifying this matter. This must be the reason why the other methods for finding the residue are not applicable, just like what Deadwolfe suggested. That explains a lot. And thanks for the rest for your input.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
789
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
Replies
14
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K