Unravelling the Mystery of Poles and Residues

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around understanding the order of poles and calculating residues for complex functions, specifically focusing on the function f(z) = 1/sin z at z=0 and f(z) = 1/sin(z^2) at z=0. Participants explore the use of Laurent series expansions and the implications of convergence in these contexts.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses confusion about determining the order of poles and calculating residues using Laurent expansion for f(z) = 1/sin z at z=0, noting that the limit approaches infinity.
  • The same participant attempts to apply a geometric series expansion but questions the validity of their approach due to the absence of negative exponents in their expansion.
  • Another participant critiques the first participant's application of the geometric series formula, suggesting it was used outside its domain of convergence and that the resulting expression cannot be rearranged into a power series.
  • A different participant suggests using the limit \lim_{z\rightarrow 0} z/sin z= 1 to find the coefficient of 1/z in the Laurent series, indicating that this coefficient is 1, thus identifying the residue.
  • The initial participant seeks additional resources for examples of similar problems, expressing dissatisfaction with available materials that lack complexity.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the methods for finding orders and residues, with some disagreement on the application of series expansions and the validity of certain approaches.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the convergence of series and the conditions under which the geometric series can be applied. The discussion does not resolve these issues.

e12514
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I still don't quite fully understand about the order of poles and calculating residues.

Take f(z) = 1/sin z at z=0 for example.
When I try putting that into Laurent expansion about z=0,
1/ sin z = 2i/ (e^z - e^(-z)) = 2ie^(-z) / ( 1 - e^(-2z))
= 2ie^(-z) [ 1 - e^(-2z) + e^(-4z) - e^(-6z) + ...] using geometric series
= 2i [ e^(-z) - e^(-3z) + e^(-5z) - e^(-7z) + ... ]

so when I expand out those "e"s using e^(g(z)) = sum_{i>=0} (g(z))^i / i!,
I get no "negative exponent" for z since they're all positive

but then lim_{z -> 0} f(z) = infty so z=0 has to be a pole, right? So then how do we find out the order (of that pole) via Laurent expansion, and consequently how to find its residue at z=0 (which should be equal to 1...)?

Can anyone explain what's going on?



Also, as another example, take f(z) = 1/sin(z^2) at z=0.
Same problem as before...
f(z) = 2i / (e^(z^2) - e^(-z^2))
= 2i [ e^(-z^2) - e^(-3z^2) + e^(-5z^2) - ... ]
How to use the Laurent exansion to find the order of the pole and the residue?
 
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e12514 said:
Can anyone explain what's going on?
Your first problem is that you applied the geometric series formula outside of its domain of convergence. While the 'magic' of algebra and analytic functions will often forgive such sins, any hope of that happening is dashed by the second problem: expanding out those e's doesn't give an expression that can be rearranged into a power series.
 
How should we go about finding orders and residues in those cases then?
 
In this particular case, you can use the fact that [itex]\lim_{z\rightarrow 0} z/sin z= 1[/itex]. 1/sin z= (z/sin z)(1/z) so the coefficient of 1/z in a Laurent series is 1.
 
Thanks mate.

Are there any good online ebooks with more examples like these available that you know of? Most of the ones I've searched/seen have either no examples or only very straightforward ones like 'polynomial denominators'...
 

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