Apan, Jhon Jasper D.

ME50-2/A1
Library Work

Conformal mapping

The graph of a real-valued function can be displayed on a two-dimensional coordinate system. However,
for w = f(z), where z and w are complex variables,

𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖𝑦
𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) + 𝑖𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦)

a graphical representation of the function f requires displaying a set of four real numbers in a four-
dimensional coordinate diagram. Since this cannot be visualized geometrically, some alternatives are
called for.

A graphical representation of a complex-valued function of a complex variable can be made by drawing

the domain of a complex variable z in the complex z-plane and mapping it into a separate complex w-
plane. A mapping in which the angles between curves are preserved in both magnitude and direction is
called a conformal mapping.

Figure 1. A conformal map preserves the angle between two curves.

The mapping w = f(z) by an analytic function is conformal, except at critical points, that is, points at
which the derivative f’ is zero

Illustrative problem

The point 𝑧 = 2 + 𝑖 lies on the intersection of 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦 = 1 on the z plane. Find the curves on
which the image maps under 𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑧 2 . Show that the mapping is conformal.

Solution

(a)

Considering the line 𝑦 = 1, this line can be written as 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑖. Hence,

𝑤 = 𝑧2
 𝑤 = (𝑥 + 𝑖)2

𝑤 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑖 + 𝑖 2

𝑤 = 𝑥 2 − 1 + 2𝑥𝑖
Since 𝑤 = 𝑢 + 𝑖𝑣, then

𝑢 = 𝑥2 − 1
𝑣 = 2𝑥
Eliminating x,

𝒗𝟐 = 𝟒 + 𝟒𝒖
which is the curve in which the line 𝑦 = 1 is mapped.

Considering the line 𝑥 = 2, this line can be written as 𝑧 = 2 + 𝑦𝑖. Hence,

𝑤 = 𝑧2

𝑤 = (2 + 𝑦𝑖)2
𝑤 = 4 + 4𝑦𝑖 + 𝑦 2 𝑖 2

𝑤 = 4 − 𝑦 2 + 4𝑦𝑖
Since 𝑤 = 𝑢 + 𝑖𝑣, then

𝑢 = 4 − 𝑦2
𝑣 = 4𝑦
Eliminating y,

𝒗𝟐 = 𝟔𝟒 − 𝟏𝟔𝒖
which is the curve in which the line 𝑥 = 2 is mapped.

The point 𝑧 = 2 + 𝑖 maps to

𝑤 = 𝑧2

𝑤 = (2 + 𝑖)2
w= 4 + 4𝑖 + 𝑖 2

𝒘 = 𝟑 + 𝟒𝒊.

Hence, the maps of 𝑥 = 2 and 𝑦 = 1 intersects at (3,4) in the w plane. This can also be obtained by
solving for u and v.
Graphing z and f(z)

Figure 2. (a) The graph in z plane; (b) The graph in w plane

(b)

By definition, the mapping w = f(z) of an analytic function is conformal except at points at which the
derivative f’ is zero.

𝑓(𝑧) = 𝑧 2
𝑓′(𝑧) = 2𝑧
At 𝑧 = 2 + 𝑖

𝑓′(𝑧) = 𝑓′(2 + 𝑖)
𝑓′(𝑧) = 2(2 + 𝑖)
𝑓 ′ (𝑧) = 4 + 2𝑖
Since 𝑓 ′ (𝑧) ≠ 0, then the mapping is conformal.

Another way of proving it is that if the angle between the curves on the z plane is equal to the w plane,
then by definition, the mapping is conformal.

From Figure 2a, it is evident that the lines are orthogonal. Then, the mapping is conformal if the tangent
lines to the curves at (3,4) in the w plane are also orthogonal.

The slope of the tangent lines can be determined from the derivative of the curves at (𝑢, 𝑣) = (3,4)
𝑑𝑣
The derivative, 𝑑𝑢, of 𝑣 2 = 4 + 4𝑢 is
𝑑𝑣
2𝑣 =4
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑣 4 2
= =
𝑑𝑢 2𝑣 𝑣
At (𝑢, 𝑣) = (3,4),
𝑑𝑣 2 1
= =
𝑑𝑢 (4) 2

𝑑𝑣
The derivative, , of 𝑣 2 = 64 − 16𝑢 is
𝑑𝑢

𝑑𝑣
2𝑣 = 16
𝑑𝑢
𝑑𝑣 16 8
= =
𝑑𝑢 2𝑣 𝑣
𝑑𝑣 8
= =2
𝑑𝑢 (4)
Since the slopes of the tangent lines of the two curves are the negative reciprocal of each other, then,
they are perpendicular. Hence, the mapping is conformal.

References

Kreyszig, Erwin. (1983). Advanced engineering mathematics. New York: Wiley

http://ocw.utm.my/pluginfile.php/2410/mod_resource/content/0/OCWbeamerChap8.pdf

https://learn.lboro.ac.uk/archive/olmp/olmp_resources/pages/workbooks_1_50_jan2008/Workbook26
/26_2_cr_eqns_n_cnfml_mpng.pdf