20.

4 SchwarzChristoffel Transformations
Introduction If D is a simply connected domain with at least one boundary point, then the famous Riemann mapping theorem asserts the existence of an analytic function g that conformally maps the unit open disk Z z Z 1 onto D. The Riemann mapping theorem is a pure existence theorem that does not specify a formula for the conformal mapping. Since the upper half-plane y 0 can be conformally mapped onto this disk using a linear fractional transformation, it follows that there exists a conformal mapping f between the upper half-plane and D. In particular, there are analytic functions that map the upper half-plane onto polygonal regions of the types shown in FIGURE 20.4.1. Unlike the Riemann mapping theorem, the SchwarzChristoffel formula specifies a form for the derivative f (z) of a conformal mapping from the upper half-plane to a bounded or unbounded polygonal region. Special Cases To motivate the general SchwarzChristoffel formula, we first examine the effect of the mapping f (z) (z x1)a/p, 0 a 2p, on the upper half-plane y 0 shown in FIGURE 20.4.2(a). This mapping is the composite of the translation z x1 and the real power function w a/p. Since w a/p changes the angle in a wedge by a factor of a/p, the interior angle in the image region is (a/p)p a. See Figure 20.4.2(b). Note that f (z) A(z x1)(a/p) 1 for A a /p . Next assume that f (z) is a function that is analytic in the upper half-plane and that has the derivative f (z) A(z x1 2 1a1 /p)1(z x2 2 1a2 /p)1, (1)
1
z1 z4 z5

3 1
z1

z3

2
z2

(a) Bounded region

z4

3 2
z2

where x1 x2. In determining the images of line segments on the x-axis, we will use the fact that a curve w w(t) in the w-plane is a line segment when the argument of its tangent vector w(t) is constant. From (1), an argument of f (t) is given by a1 a2 arg f (t) Arg A a 2 1 b Arg (t x1) a 2 1 b Arg (t x2). p p (2)

z3

(b) Unbounded region

Since Arg(t x) p for t x, we can find the variation of arg f (t) along the x-axis. The results are shown in the following table. Interval (q, x1) (x1, x2) (x2, q) arg f (t) Arg A (a1 p) (a2 p) Arg A (a2 p) Arg A Change in Argument 0 p a1 p a2

FIGURE 20.4.1 Polygonal regions

A x1 (a) B

Since arg f (t) is constant on the intervals in the table, the images are line segments, and FIGURE 20.4.3 shows the image of the upper half-plane. Note that the interior angles of the polygonal image region are a1 and a2. This discussion generalizes to produce the SchwarzChristoffel formula. Theorem 20.4.1 SchwarzChristoffel Formula

Let f (z) be a function that is analytic in the upper half-plane y 0 and that has the derivative f (z) A(z x1 2
1a1 /p) 1

(z x2 2

1a2 /p) 1

(z xn 2

1an /p) 1

(3)
(b)

where x1 x2 . . . xn and each a i satisfies 0 a i 2p . Then f (z) maps the upper half-plane y 0 to a polygonal region with interior angles a1, a2, . . . , an.

FIGURE 20.4.2 Image of upper half-plane

20.4 SchwarzChristoffel Transformations

869

w = f (t), t > x2

2 2

w = f (t), x1< t < x2

In applying this formula to a particular polygonal target region, the reader should carefully note the following comments: (i) One can select the location of three of the points xk on the x-axis. A judicious choice can simplify the computation of f (z). The selection of the remaining points depends on the shape of the target polygon. (ii) A general formula for f (z) is f 1 z2 5 A 1 z 2 x12 1a1>p2 2 1 1 z 2 x22 1a2>p2 2 1 p 1 z 2 xn2 1an>p2 2 1 dz 1 B, and therefore f (z) may be considered as the composite of the conformal mapping g 1 z2 5

1 1

w = f (t), t < x1

FIGURE 20.4.3 Image of upper half-plane

# 1z 2 x 2
1

1a1>p2 2 1

1 z 2 x22 1a2>p2 2 1 p 1 z 2 xn2 1an>p2 2 1 dz

1 (a)

1 B

and the linear function w Az B. The linear function w Az B allows us to magnify, rotate, and translate the image polygon produced by g(z). (See Section 20.1.) (iii) If the polygonal region is bounded, only n 1 of the n interior angles should be included in the SchwarzChristoffel formula. As an illustration, the interior angles a1, a2, a3, and a4 are sufficient to determine the SchwarzChristoffel formula for the pentagon shown in Figure 20.4.1(a).

v i B

EXAMPLE 1
u

Constructing a Conformal Mapping

2 2
A (b)

Use the SchwarzChristoffel formula to construct a conformal mapping from the upper halfplane to the strip Z v Z 1, u 0. Solution We may select x1 1 and x2 1 on the x-axis, and we will construct a conformal mapping f with f (1) i and f (1) i. See FIGURE 20.4.4. Since a1 a2 p/2, the SchwarzChristoffel formula (3) gives f 1 z2 5 A1 z 1 12 21>2 1 z 2 12 21>2 5 A 1 A 1 5 . 1> 2 i 1 1 2 z2 2 1> 2 1 z 2 12
2

FIGURE 20.4.4 Image of upper half-plane in Example 1

Therefore, f (z) Ai sin1z B. Since f (1) i and f (1) i, we obtain, respectively, 2i 5 Ai p p 1 Bandi 5 2Ai 1 B 2 2

and conclude that B 0 and A 2/p. Thus, f (z) (2/p)i sin1z.

EXAMPLE 2
A 1 (a) v 1 B x

Constructing a Conformal Mapping

Use the SchwarzChristoffel formula to construct a conformal mapping from the upper halfplane to the region shown in FIGURE 20.4.5(b). Solution We again select x1 1 and x2 1, and we will require that f (1) ai and f (1) 0. Since a1 3p/2 and a2 p/2, the SchwarzChristoffel formula (3) gives f (z) A(z 1)1/2 (z 1)1/2.

ai u

If we write f (z) as A(z/(z2 1)1/2 1/(z2 1)1/2), it follows that f (z) A[(z2 1)1/2 cosh1z] B. Note that cosh1(1) pi and cosh1 1 0, and so ai f (1) A(pi) B and 0 f (1) B. Therefore, A a/p and f (z) (a/p)[(z2 1)1/2 cosh1z]. The next example will show that it may not always be possible to find f (z) in terms of elementary functions. CHAPTER 20 Conformal Mappings

B (b)

FIGURE 20.4.5 Image of upper half-plane in Example 2

870

 EXAMPLE 3

Constructing a Conformal Mapping

Use the SchwarzChristoffel formula to construct a conformal mapping from the upper halfplane to the interior of the equilateral triangle shown in FIGURE 20.4.6(b).
y v

0 (a)

1 B

0 (b)

FIGURE 20.4.6 Image of upper half-plane in Example 3

Solution Since the polygonal region is bounded, only two of the three 60 interior angles should be included in the SchwarzChristoffel formula. If x1 0 and x2 1, we obtain f (z) Az2/3 (z 1)2/3. It is not possible to evaluate f (z) in terms of elementary functions; however, we can use Theorem 18.3.3 to construct the antiderivative f 1 z2 5 A

1 ds 1 B. s 1 s 2 12 2>3
2> 3

If we require that f (0) 0 and f (1) 1, it follows that B 0 and 15A

1 dx. x 2>3 1 x 2 12 2>3

It can be shown that this last integral is G1 1 3 2 , where denotes the gamma function. Therefore, the required conformal mapping is f 1 z2 5 1 G11 32

1 ds. s 1 s 2 12 2>3
2> 3

The SchwarzChristoffel formula can sometimes be used to suggest a possible conformal mapping from the upper half-plane onto a nonpolygonal region R. A key first step is to approximate R by polygonal regions. This will be illustrated in the final example.

EXAMPLE 4

Constructing a Conformal Mapping

Use the SchwarzChristoffel formula to construct a conformal mapping from the upper halfplane to the upper half-plane with the horizontal line v p, u 0, deleted. Solution The nonpolygonal target region can be approximated by a polygonal region by adjoining a line segment from w pi to a point u0 on the negative u-axis. See FIGURE 20.4.7(b). If we require that f (1) pi and f (0) u0, the SchwarzChristoffel transformation satisfies f 1 z2 5 A1 z 1 12
1a1>p2 2 1 1a2>p2 2 1

0 (a) v

Note that as u0 approaches q, the interior angles a1 and a2 approach 2p and 0, respectively. This suggests we examine conformal mappings that satisfy w A(z 1)1z1 A(1 1/z) or w A(z Ln z) B. We will first determine the image of the upper half-plane under g(z) z Ln z and then translate the image region if needed. For t real, g(t) t loge Z t Z i Arg t. If t 0, Arg t p and u(t) t loge Z t Z varies from q to 1. It follows that w g(t) moves along the line v p from q to 1. When t 0, Arg t 0 and u(t) varies from q to q. Therefore, g maps the positive x-axis onto the u-axis. We can conclude that g(z) z Ln z maps 20.4 SchwarzChristoffel Transformations

v=

1
B (b) u

2
u0

FIGURE 20.4.7 Image of upper half-plane in Example 4

871

the upper half-plane onto the upper half-plane with the horizontal line v p, u 1, deleted. Therefore, w z Ln z 1 maps the upper half-plane onto the original target region. Many of the conformal mappings in Appendix IV can be derived using the SchwarzChristoffel formula, and we will show in Section 20.6 that these mappings are especially useful in analyzing two-dimensional fluid flows.