# Let $f(z)$ be entire function. Show that if $f(z)$ is real when $|z| = 1$, then $f(z)$ must be a constant function using Maximum Modulus theorem

Let $f(z)$ be entire function. Consider the functions $e^{if(z)}$ and $e^{−if(z)}$ and applying the Maximum Modulus Theorem, show that if $f(z)$ is real when $|z| = 1$, then $f(z)$ must be a constant function.

(We take $f(z)=u(z)+iv(z)$)

I am confused as so far I have $|g(z)|=|e^{if(z)}|=|e^{-v(z)}|$ and then since $f(z)$ is real, $f(z)=u(z)$ and $v(z)=0$ so I assumed it would follow that $|g(z)|=|e^{v(z)}|=1$.

Similarly, $|g(z)|=|e^{-if(z)}|=|e^{v(z)}|=1$.

Using Liouville I assumed one could say that both $g(z)$ and $h(z)$ are bounded entire functions, they are constant and so it follows that $v(z)$ is constant, meaning that both its partial derivatives are equal to 0 and, due to Cauchy Riemann, both of the partial derivatives of $u(z)$ are equal to zero. It would then follow that $f(z)$ is constant.

I don't know how to go about the question using the Maximum Modulus Theorem, also I feel I am overlooking the importance of $|z|=1$ perhaps?

Any help would be much appreciated!!

The function $$g:z\mapsto e^{if(z)}$$ is entire. Since $$f$$ is real on the unit circle $$\mathbb{S}^1$$, it turns out that $$|g|=1$$ on this set. But since $$g$$ is entire, using the Maximum Modulus Theorem, we know that $$|g(z)| \leq 1$$ for all $$|z| \leq 1$$. This means that (using your notations: $$f(z)=u(z)+iv(z)$$) $$v \geq 0$$ for $$|z| \leq 1$$. Same reasoning with $$h:z\mapsto e^{-if(z)}$$ leads to $$v \leq 0$$ on the unit disk and hence $$v(z)=0$$ on the unit disk, that is $$f$$ takes only real values on the whole unit disk which happens only if $$f$$ is constant (open mapping theorem).

Ayman

• Great, thank you so much :) – katherinebarry Nov 2 '12 at 10:20

The maximum modulus principle says that $|g(z)|=|e^{if(z)}|$ attains its maximum for $D=\{ |z| \leq 1 \}$ on the boundary.

Thus

$$|e^{if(z)}| \leq 1 \,;\, \forall |z| \leq 1 \,.$$

Applying it to $h(z)=|e^{-if(z)}|$ you get again

$$|e^{-if(z)}| \leq 1 \,;\, \forall |z| \leq 1 \,.$$

Now,

$$e^{-if(z)}=\frac{1}{e^{if(z)}} \,.$$

Plug this in the second identity and you are done.

• Is necessary the hypothesis of being entire? Or we can only require holomorphic on a neighborhood of the unit disk? – Daniel Nov 3 '12 at 23:27
• @Daniel That is enough. Actually MMP says that if $g,h$ are holomorphic inside $|z| <1$, then they cannot have a max/min inside the domain. And if $g,h$ are continuous on the closed unit disk, then they attain their max/min by compactness. So I think that holomorphic on the open disk and continuous on the closed disk is all you need. – N. S. Nov 3 '12 at 23:34