Notes for 110.

311 Complex Analysis

20th Lecture
19 November 2015
Abstract
Continuing our study of Laurent series, we examine how to calculate coefficients for the terms in a
Laurent series.

Finding the Coefficients of Laurent Series

Suppose we know already f (z) =

j= cj (z

a)j on r < |z a| < R. How do we find the coefficients cj ?

Take a simple closed contour that

Surrounds z = a
Resides within the annulus
Has positive orientation
We integrate both sides along
R
(z a)j = ?
R
(j)
P
f (z)
1
dz, in the
For the Taylor series we write f (z) = j=0 cj (z a)j , where cj = f j!(a) = 2i
|za|=r (za)j+1
analytic domain of f (z). Given analytic f (z) and point z = a there exists a unique Laurent series on the
domain r < |z| < R. For some , r < < R
Z
(z a)j dz = 0, j 6= 1,
|za|=
j+1

as (z a)j dz = (za)
j+1
write a Laurent series as
R

f (z) =

for j 6= 1 (which doesnt require that the domain is simply connected). We can

cj (z a)j = . . . + c2 (z a)2 + c1 (z a)1 + c0 + c1 (z a) + c2 (z a)2 + . . .

j=

From the Cauchy integral theorem, we see that

Z
Z
1
dz = 2i =
f (z) dz = c1 2i
|za|=
|za|= z a
In order to compute c2 we multiply f (z) by (z a)3 :
. . . + c1

1
1
f (z)
+ c2
+ c3 + c4 (z a) + . . . =
(z a)2
za
(z a)3
Z
=
|za|=

f (z)
dz = c2 2i
(z a)3

From this we see a general formula for the coefficients of a Laurent series:
Z
f (z)
dz = cj 2i j Z
j+1
|za|= (z a)
This is the same as with Taylor series, except that we allow j < 0. We summarize our results thus far:
1

Theorem 1. If f (z) is analytic in an annulus r < |z a| < R, then f (z) =

and

j= cj (z a)

in the annulus

1. The convergence is uniform on r0 < |z a| < R0 for any r < r0 < R0 < R.
2. For any simply closed contour that resides in the annulus and surrounds z = a, j Z
Z
1
f (z)
cj =
dz
2i (z a)j+1
In practice, it is difficult to use this formula; one often uses more direct computation to find cj .
Example 1:
1
Find the Laurent series of e z2 around z = 0
The domain of analyticity is z 6= 0, r = 0, R = 0
P
j
w, ew = j=0 wj!
Then z 6= 0
e

1
z2

X
(z 2 )j
j=0

j!

X
z 2j
j=0

=1+

Example 2:
Find the Laurent series of

z2
(z1)(z2)

j!
1
1
1
+
+
+ ...
z2
2! z 4
3! z 6

around z = 0 within these domains:

(a) |z| < 1

(b) 1 < |z| < 2
(c) 2 < |z|
This function is analytic everywhere except for z = 1 and z = 2, so it is analytic for these domains. To
simplify this function, we need to perform partial fraction decomposition; to do so, we need that the degree
of the denominator exceeds that of the numerator, so we write
z 2 (z 1)(z 2)
z2
=
+1
(z 1)(z 2)
(z 1)(z 2)
3z 2
=
+1
(z 1)(z 2)
A
B
=
+
+1
z1 z2
We now solve for coefficients:



3z 2
+ z 1 
= 1
z2
z=1


3z 2
B=
+ z 2 
= 4,
z1
z=2

A=

so

z2
1
4
=
+
+ 1.
(z 1)(z 2)
z1 z2

1
(a) For |z| < 1, 1z
=

this domain is thus

4
j
j=0 z (Taylor series). z2
P j
P z
j
+ 1.
j=0 z 2
j=0 2

4 1
2 1 z2

, so | z2 | <

1
2

= 2

j=0

z j
2 .

The series in

1
(b) For |z| > 1, 1z
=
P z
j+1
2 j=0 2
.

1
1
z 1

(c) For |z| > 2, we can write

1 1
z 1 z1

4
z2

1
z

4 1
z 1 z2

j=0

1 j
z .

For 1 < |z| < 2, the series is then

l; we write the series

1
z

j=0

1 j
z

4
z

j=0

1
z

2 j+1
z

j=0

1 j
z