# Properties of Complex Function $f(z)=e^{-\frac{1}{z^{1/3}}}$

This post will be about a part of an example from my complex analysis book.

Problem:

They claim that there exist a function $$J_+(z)$$ holomorphic in the upper half plane $$\operatorname{im}z>0$$, smooth on the real line, that does not extend holomorphically in any neighborhood of $$0$$ in $$\mathbb{C}$$.

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Construction of Function:

Their candidate is constructed by first letting $$z_+^{1/3}$$ be the cube root of $$z$$ determined by $$z_+^{1/3}=\operatorname{exp}\Big(\frac{1}{3} (\log|z|+i\arg z \Big),\quad -\pi/2<\arg z<3\pi/2.$$ They then claim that

$$J_+(z)=\operatorname{exp}(-1/z_+^{1/3})$$

satisfies the properties.

Questions (Technicalities):

1. What is the point of defining the cube root?

Isn't $$\operatorname{Log}z=\log |z|+i\arg z$$ and $$e^{\frac{1}{3}\operatorname{Log}z}=z^{\frac{1}{3}}.$$ Couldn't we just have taken $$J_+(z)=e^{-\frac{1}{z^{1/3}}}?$$ Or do they perhaps do the cube-root thing to clarify something, or perhaps you need it for some technical reasons?

1. Why did they choose $$-\pi/2<\arg z<3\pi/2$$? Would there be any interval considered a bad choice? If so, which one?

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Questions (Proof of properties):

1. First I will try to prove that the function, $$J_+(z)$$, is holomorphic in the upper half-plane. Is it enough to prove that $$f(z)=e^{z}$$ and $$-\frac{1}{z^{1/3}}$$ are holomorphic in the upper half-plane. Since then their composition $$f\Big (-\frac{1}{z_+^{1/3}}\Big)=J_+(z)$$ is holomorphic in the upper half-plane?
2. Next thing to prove is that $$J_+(z)$$ is smooth on the real line.

Does this mean I should differentiate $$J_+(z)$$ as a real function, that is, fix $$y=0$$ if $$z=x+iy$$? If that's the case, couldn't I just mimic the first example given on this wikipedia article:

If not, how would i prove this statement?

1. Furthermore, to prove that $$J_+(z)$$ does not continue holomorphically past the origin, can I do the power series proof as they do in wikipedia link, or do you know any better way to prove this?

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There are already a lot of questions to be answered, I apologize for that. However, I do have two bonus questions (they are not prio one to be answered).

It doesn't feel like I have used the property of the third root anywhere. Wouldn't for that matter $$e^{-1/\sqrt{z}}$$ also work? Or why not more generally $$e^{-1/z^{1/n}}$$ for $$n\in \{1,2,...\}$$? Probably there is something important going on with the cube root, but I just can't see it (I just thought it is quite odd to specifically give the cube root as an example of a function).

I really hope I can get some help to understand this example. :)

• Do you know that every non-zero complex number has three cube roots? How can you just define $J_{+}(z)$ using $z^{1/3}$ without saying how you choose the cube root? You cannot hope to get an analytic function if you don't assign a unique value for each $z$. – Kavi Rama Murthy Nov 11 '18 at 23:51
• @KaviRamaMurthy Thank you for your comment Kavi. You are right, I have to write where I take the branch cut. I guess the branch cut should be taken along the negative imaginary axis. Sorry for me being slow, I am just learning all this material. And there are so many concepts for my brain to grasp. But I am really happy for your help! :) – Joe Nov 12 '18 at 0:54
• Sorry if I sounded harsh. I didn't mean to. – Kavi Rama Murthy Nov 12 '18 at 12:21