Complex Analysis with Physical Applications

Overview

The course is for engineering and physics majors.
You will learn how to build the solutions of important in physics differential equations and their asymptotic expansions.

The main topics include:
1.    Introduction to asymptotic series.
2.    Special functions.
3.    Saddle point techniques.
4.    Laplace method of solving differential equations with linear coefficients.
5.    Stokes phenomenon.

The course instructors are active researchers in a theoretical solid state physics. Armed with the tools mastered while attending the course, the students will have solid command of the methods of tackling differential equations and integrals encountered in theoretical and applied physics and material science.

Syllabus

Week 1. Asymptotic series. Introduction

Asymptotic series as approximation of definite integrals.
Examples, optimal summation Taylor vs asymptotic expansions.

Week 2. Laplace-type integrals and stationary phase approximations

Zero term and full Laplace asymptotic series.
Asymptotics of Error and Fresnel integrals.

Week 3. Euler Gamma and Beta-functions, analytic continuation and asymptotics

Euler Gamma function: definition, functional equation and analytic continuation.
Hankel representation for Gamma-function.
Beta and digamma functions.
Asymptotic expansions.
Application of Gamma functions for the computation of integrals.

Week 4. Saddle point approximation I

Introduction to the method of saddle point approximation.
The search for optimal deformation of the contour.
Full asymptotic series.
Elementary applications of the saddle point approximation.

Week 5. Saddle point approximation II

Subtleties of a contour deformation.
Contribution of end points.
Higher order saddles.
Coalescent saddle and pole.

Week 6. Differential equations with linear coefficients. Laplace method I

Construction of the solution of the differential equations with linear coefficients in terms of Laplace type contour integrals.
Examples of solutions of second order differential equations
The general outline of the technique.

Week 7. Physical applications