# Branch of multiple-valued function (complex analysis)

Find a branch of $(z^3 - 1)^{1/3}$ which is analytic in $|z| > 1$

So we essentially want to study $\frac 13\text{Log} (1 - \frac 1{z^3} )$, the principal branch of the logarithm where $-\pi < \text{Arg} (z) < \pi$. Problems arise when $\text{Re}(z^3 - 1) \leq 0$ and $\text{Im} (z^3 - 1) = 0$ i.e. when $z^3 - 1$ is a non-positive, real number.

Setting these equations up, how can I produce the result $|z| > 1$?

• Can you find a branch of $\sqrt[3]{1-w^3}$ for $\lvert w\rvert < 1$? – Daniel Fischer Sep 23 '14 at 21:09
• I run into the same problem, having to produce that result from the real and imaginary part equations – thelionkingrafiki Sep 23 '14 at 21:12
• Can you find a branch of $\sqrt[3]{1-w}$ for $\lvert w\rvert < 1$? If you do that, the solution to your problem is only a small modification away. – Daniel Fischer Sep 23 '14 at 21:15
• I would make a similar approach for that one, factoring out w and investigating the log of $1/w - 1$. But again I would have the produce that result by investigating the conditions on the real and imaginary part (respectively) of $1/w - 1$. That's where it gets hairy for me unfortunately! – thelionkingrafiki Sep 23 '14 at 21:16
• That's the wrong way. You should factor out $z$ to get the above form, which you can directly solve. You don't need to consider a logarithm at all, although for $\sqrt[n]{1-w^k}$ you can, if you want. – Daniel Fischer Sep 23 '14 at 21:20

Let $$\omega_1=1, \quad \omega_2=\frac{-1+i\sqrt{3}}{2}\quad\text{and}\quad \omega_3=\frac{-1-i\sqrt{3}}{2}.$$

A domain for $\,\sqrt[3]{1-z^3}\,$ could be $$\Omega=\mathbb C\smallsetminus \big([0,\omega_1]\cup[0,\omega_2]\cup [0,\omega_3]\big).$$ By $[a,b]$, for $a,b\in \mathbb C$ we denote the segment connecting $a$ and $b$ in the complex plane.

Clearly $\{z:\lvert z\rvert>1\}\subset\Omega$.

In order to prove it you need the following lemma:

If $a,b$ belong to the same connected component of $\mathbb C\smallsetminus\Omega$, then $$f(z)=\log\left(\frac{z-a}{z-b}\right),$$ is definable as holomorphic in $\Omega$.

Using this lemma, we can easily see that $\omega_1,\omega_2,\omega_3$ belong to the one and only component of $\mathbb C\smallsetminus\Omega$ and $$\sqrt[3]{1-z^3}=(z-\omega_3)\exp\left( \frac{1}{3}\log\left(\frac{z-\omega_1}{z-\omega_3}\right)+ \frac{1}{3}\log\left(\frac{z-\omega_2}{z-\omega_3}\right) \right).$$

• I am sure you have a written a neat and rigorous answer to this problem but know that for someone struggling with a rather basic concept it is not insightful. At all. But thank you nonetheless. – thelionkingrafiki Sep 23 '14 at 21:37