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Conformal Mapping
Conformal Mapping
Let 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 , 𝑤 = 𝑢 + 𝑖𝑣
we have two complex planes, the Z-plane and W-plane.
Consider the map 𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑧), from Z-plane to the W-plane.
The mapping 𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑧) is called ‘conformal’ if the angle between any
two smooth curves 𝐶1and𝐶2 in the Z-plane intersecting at point P is
equal to the angle between their images 𝐶1′𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶2′ intersecting at 𝑃′,
both in magnitude and sense.
Angle preserving map.
Condition for conformality
The map 𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑧) is conformal at each point where it is analytic and
𝑓′(𝑧) ≠ 0.
The points where 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = 0 or ∞ are known as critical points.
Examples:
1. The translation map 𝑤 = 𝑧 + 𝑐, where 𝑐 is a complex constant.
Conformal everywhere.
Find the image of the rectangle having vertices at 𝑧 = 0, 𝑧 = 1, 𝑧 = 1 +
𝑖, 𝑧 = 𝑖 under the map 𝑤 = 𝑧 + 1 + 𝑖.
2. Rotation and magnification. The map 𝑤 = 𝑐𝑧, where 𝑐 is a non-zero
complex constant.
Let 𝑤 = 𝑅𝑒 𝑖𝜑 , 𝑐 = 𝜌𝑒 𝑖𝛼 , 𝑧 = 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃
Then 𝑤 = 𝑅𝑒 𝑖𝜑 = (𝜌𝑟)𝑒 𝑖(𝛼+𝜃) .
Find the image of the rectangle having vertices at 𝑧 = 0, 𝑧 = 1, 𝑧 = 1 +
𝑖, 𝑧 = 𝑖 under the map 𝑤 = (1 + 𝑖)𝑧.
1
3. Inversion map 𝑤 = ,𝑧 ≠ 0.
𝑧
1
Find the image of 𝑧 < 1 under the mapping 𝑤 = .
𝑧
Let 𝑧 = 𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃 and 𝑤 = 𝑅𝑒 𝑖𝜑 .
1 1
𝑤= 𝑅𝑒 𝑖𝜑 = , Hence 𝑅 = , 𝜑 = −𝜃
𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝜃 𝑟
𝑧 < 1 → 𝑤 > 1.
Show that circles are mapped to circles or straight lines under the
inversion map.
Proof: Consider the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑔𝑥 + 2𝑓𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0 ….(1)
1 1
𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 , 𝑤 = 𝑢 + 𝑖𝑣, 𝑤 = gives z =
𝑧 𝑤
1 1 𝑢−𝑖𝑣
𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 = . 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 =
𝑢+𝑖𝑣 𝑢+𝑖𝑣 𝑢−𝑖𝑣
𝑢 −𝑣
𝑥= ,𝑦 = .
𝑢2 +𝑣 2 𝑢2 +𝑣 2
𝑢 2 −𝑣 2 𝑢 −𝑣
Eq. (1) becomes, ( 2 2) +( 2 2 ) +2𝑔 2 2 + 2𝑓( 2 2) + 𝑐 = 0.
𝑢 +𝑣 𝑢 +𝑣 𝑢 +𝑣 𝑢 +𝑣
𝑐 𝑢2 + 𝑣 2 + 2𝑔𝑢 − 2𝑓𝑣 + 1 = 0. This is a circle in the W-plane.
Bilinear map ( Linear fractional transformation, Mobius transformation)
Defn:
𝑎𝑧 + 𝑏
𝑤= , 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑 are complex constants such that 𝑎𝑑 − 𝑏𝑐 ≠ 0
𝑐𝑧 + 𝑑
Translation, Rotation and magnification and inversion are special cases.
𝑑
The map is conformal. ( except at 𝑧 = − , where the map is not
𝑐
defined.)
𝑑𝑤 𝑎𝑑−𝑏𝑐
= .
𝑑𝑧 (𝑐𝑧+𝑑)2
Result: Under a bilinear map, circles are mapped to either circles or
straight lines.
𝑎𝑧+𝑏
Proof: Let 𝑤 = .
𝑐𝑧+𝑑
𝑎 𝑏𝑐−𝑎𝑑 1
Then 𝑤 = + ( ) . ( Assume 𝑐 ≠ 0).
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐𝑧+𝑑
i.e., a bilinear map is a combination of translation, inversion and
rotation and magnification. Since under all these maps circles are taken
to circles, the result follows.
Cross ratio: The cross ratio of four points 𝑧1, 𝑧2 , 𝑧3, 𝑧4 is defined as
(𝑧1−𝑧2)(𝑧3−𝑧4)
(𝑧1, 𝑧2, 𝑧3 , 𝑧4) = .
(𝑧4−𝑧1)(𝑧2−𝑧3)
Prove that the cross ratio is invariant under a bilinear map.
𝑎𝑧+𝑏
Proof: Let 𝑤 = be a bilinear map.
𝑐𝑧+𝑑
Let 𝑤1, 𝑤2, 𝑤3, 𝑤4 be the images of 𝑧1 , 𝑧2, 𝑧3 , 𝑧4 respectively.
To prove that ( 𝑧1 , 𝑧2, 𝑧3, 𝑧4 ) = (𝑤1, 𝑤2, 𝑤3, 𝑤4).
𝑎𝑧1 +𝑏 𝑎𝑧2+𝑏 (𝑎𝑑−𝑏𝑐)(𝑧1−𝑧2 )
We have , 𝑤1 − 𝑤2 = − =
𝑐𝑧1 +𝑑 𝑐𝑧2+𝑑 (𝑐𝑧1+𝑑)(𝑐𝑧2 +𝑑)
(𝑤1 −𝑤2 )(𝑤3−𝑤4)
(𝑤1, 𝑤2, 𝑤3, 𝑤4) = =… = ( 𝑧1, 𝑧2, 𝑧3 , 𝑧4 ).
(𝑤4 −𝑤1 )(𝑤2−𝑤3)
Fixed points of a map: Let 𝑤 = 𝑓 𝑧 . A fixed point of the map is a point
such that 𝑓 𝑧 = 𝑧. i.e., the image under the map is itself.
To find fixed points of a bilinear map.
𝑎𝑧+𝑏 𝑎𝑧+𝑏
Let 𝑤 = be a bilinear map. For fixed points solve, =𝑧.
𝑐𝑧+𝑑 𝑐𝑧+𝑑
Solve the quadratic equation, 𝑐𝑧 2 − 𝑎 − 𝑑 𝑧 − 𝑏 = 0.
𝑧+𝑖
Ex: Find fixed points of the map 𝑤 = .
𝑧−𝑖
𝑎𝑧+𝑏
A bilinear map is 𝑤 = . ….(1)
𝑐𝑧+𝑑
This map can be uniquely determined by three conditions. ( Only three
different constants are involved in the map).
Given images of three points, we can determine the map.
Let 𝑤1, 𝑤2, 𝑤3 be the images of 𝑧1, 𝑧2, 𝑧3 respectively.
Method 1: We can substitute in (1) and get three equations to solve for
the constants.
Method 2: By the cross ratio property, we can write the equation,
(z, 𝑧1, 𝑧2, 𝑧3 ) =(𝑤, 𝑤1, 𝑤2, 𝑤3). Solve this equation for 𝑤 in terms of 𝑧.
Find the bilinear map that maps z = 0, 1, ∞ to w =
− 1, −𝑖, 1 respectively.
By the cross ratio property, (z, 0,1, ∞) =(𝑤, −1, −𝑖, 1).
(𝑧−0)(1−∞) (𝑤+1)(−𝑖−1)
i.e., =
(∞−𝑧)(0−1) (1−𝑤)(−1+𝑖)
(𝑤+1) (1+𝑖) 𝑤+1
i.e., 𝑧= , 𝑧=𝑖
(1−𝑤) (1−𝑖) 1−𝑤
𝑧 − 𝑧𝑤 = 𝑖𝑤 + 𝑖.
𝑧 − 𝑖 = 𝑧𝑤 + 𝑖𝑤.
𝑧−𝑖
𝑤= .
𝑧+𝑖
𝑧−𝑖
Find the image of 𝑧 < 1 under the bilinear map, 𝑤 = .
𝑧+𝑖
𝑧−𝑖 𝑤+1
𝑤= implies, 𝑧 = 𝑖
𝑧+𝑖 1−𝑤
𝑤+1 𝑤+1
𝑧 < 1 maps to 𝑖 < 1, i.e., <1
1−𝑤 1−𝑤
𝑤+1 < 𝑤−1 .
𝑢 + 𝑖𝑣 + 1 < 𝑢 + 𝑖𝑣 − 1 .
(𝑢 + 1)2+𝑣 2 < (𝑢 − 1)2+𝑣 2 .
2𝑢 < −2𝑢.
Hence, 𝑢 < 0. ( Figure ?)
Some special mappings.
The map 𝑤 = 𝑧 2.
Conformal except at 𝑧 = 0.
Put 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦 , 𝑤 = 𝑢 + 𝑖𝑣
𝑢 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2, 𝑣 = 2𝑥𝑦.
1. Image of the line 𝑥 = 𝑎. Assume a is not zero.
𝑢 = 𝑎 2 − 𝑦 2, 𝑣 = 2𝑎𝑦.
𝑣 2
Eliminating 𝑦 , we have 𝑢 = 𝑎2 − ( ) .
2𝑎
𝑣 2 = −4𝑎 2(𝑢 − 𝑎 2). Which is a parabola in W-plane.
2. Image of the line 𝑦 = 𝑏. Assume b not zero.
𝑢 = 𝑥 2 − 𝑏 2, 𝑣 = 2𝑏𝑥.
𝑣 2
Eliminating 𝑥 , we have 𝑢 = ( ) −𝑏 2.
2𝑏
𝑣 2 = 4𝑏 2 (𝑢 + 𝑏 2). Which is also a parabola in W-plane.