# An entire function bounded outside a strip which contains the reals is constant

Let $f$ be an entire function, which takes real values on the real axis and has no zeros. Suppose $f$ is bounded for $|\operatorname{Im} z| > a > 0$ where $a>0$. Is $f$ a constant?

I would be able to conclude this with Liouville's theorem if I knew that $\operatorname{Im}z$ is bounded in the strip $|\operatorname{Im} z|\le a$, but I don't see how to prove this.

• Show that $f$ is bounded on the strip $|\text{Im} z| \le a$ too, so it's bounded everywhere, then apply Liouville's theorem. – Alex M. Dec 12 '15 at 20:47
• Thanks Alex M. for your answer. The problem is precisely that we can not show that the function is bounded for |Im z|<a. – delrio Dec 14 '15 at 0:33
• entire functions are constructed by : starting from polynomials, constructing new functions by addition and multiplication and also converging infinite sums and products (which allows $f \to e^f$) thus if you can prove the theorem for polynomials and by induction following each of these construction rules, you'll get your theorem. another way would be to find a trick (like applying the the maximum or minimum modulus to $\cos(f)$) directly showing that the function has to be constant, but it will be a less general approach – reuns Feb 10 '16 at 11:04
• i am sure this is a duplicate q. – DanielWainfleet Feb 10 '16 at 13:23
• Possible duplicate of Entire function $f(z)$ bounded for $\mathrm{Re}(z)^2 >1$? – user147263 Feb 13 '16 at 0:28

$$f(z) = \int_0^\infty \frac{e^{z t}}{t^t}dt$$
which is an entire function bounded by $\frac{1}{|c|}$ on any ray starting from the origin to infinity with an angle $\pm e^{i (\pi/2 \pm c)}$. Thus it is unbounded only on a small strip around the imaginary axis.
• The present question requires also that the function have no zeros. But $\exp f(z)$ seems to do the trick. – Noam D. Elkies Feb 11 '16 at 5:09