Math 534/535/536
Complex Analysis

Don Marshall

Autumn/Winter/Spring 2002-2003, Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10:30-11:20


This three quarter course is an introduction to complex analysis covering the material on the PhD prelim exam: Cauchy theory and applications. Series and product expansions of holomorphic and meromorphic functions. Classification of isolated singularities. Theory and applications of normal families. Riemann mapping theorem; mappings defined by elementary functions; construction of explicit conformal maps. Runge's theorem and applications. Picard's theorems and applications. Harmonic functions; the Poisson integral; the Dirichlet problem. Analytic continuation and the monodromy theorem. The reflection principle. The third quarter will also include the uniformization theorem, elliptic functions and fuchsian groups.

The prerequisite for the course is an undergraduate analysis class, approximately on the level of math 424-5-6. A detailed syllabus, and a list of prerequisite topics will be handed out on the first day of class.

There are many suitable texts, for example:

  1. Gamelin, Theodore, Complex Analysis (the bookstore has copies)
  2. Ahlfors, Lars, Complex Analysis
  3. Sarason, Don, Notes on Complex Function Theory
From the introduction to the first book: "Complex analysis is a splendid realm within the world of mathematics, unmatched for its beauty and power. It has varifold elegant and often-times unexpected applications to virtually every part of mathematics. It is broadly applicable beyond mathematics, and in particular it provides powerful tools for the sciences and engineering." A more mundane observation: Our grad web page
../Programs/recprog.html"
lists recommended programs in thirteen separate areas of research. Twelve of them include math 534-5-6.

Feel free to drop by if you want more information.