Proof that Analytic Functions in an Annulus Have a Laurent Representation

complex-analysis

I'm trying to follow Ahlfors's proof that any analytic function defined in an annulus $R_1 < |z-a| < R_2$ will have a Laurent representation. To do this, he defines two functions:

$$f_1(z) = \frac{1}{2\pi i} \int_{|\zeta-a|=r} \frac{f(\zeta) d\zeta}{\zeta-z} \text{ for $|z-a| < r < R_2$ } $$

$$f_2(z) = – \frac{1}{2\pi i} \int_{|\zeta – a|=r} \frac{f(\zeta)d\zeta}{\zeta-z} \text{ for $R_1 < r <|z-a|$}$$

and he says that it follows by Cauchy's integral theorem that $f(z) = f_1(z) + f_2(z)$. I was wondering if someone could explain to me why this is true.

Also, should I assume that $f_1$ is defined to be $0$ for $|z-a| \geq r$ and $f_2=0$ for $|z-a| \leq r$?

Best Answer

You can consider the union $C$ of the two circles (where the outer one is oriented one way and the interior the opposite way) as a cycle (i.e. formal sum of paths with boundary zero). Cauchy's theorem says that if the winding number is zero outside the domain in question (that is, outside the annulus), then the integral over $C$ of $\frac{f(\zeta)}{\zeta - z}$ is $2\pi f(z) n_C(z)$. The way the two circles are oriented is going to imply that $C $ has zero winding numbers about every point outside the annulus, so we get $$f(z) = \frac{1}{2\pi i} \int_C \frac{f(\zeta)}{\zeta - z} d \zeta,$$ which is what you want.

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