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What non-zero complex analytic functions have all derivatives non-zero, everywhere?

So for every complex number z, f(z)≠0 and all derivatives fⁿ(z)≠=0.

This is a followup to another question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201008...

Update:

Hi KB. The condition that all derivatives are also non-zero restricts things somewhat. The second derivative of e^(e^z) is zero at z=πi.

1 Answer

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  • kb
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Update: Here's a proof in progress (I hope)...

    Since C is open (in itself), every zero-free analytic function f(z) has an analytic logarithm.

    Thus, f(z) = e^(g(z)) for some analytic g(z) on C.

    Note that f' = g' e^g.

    Since we want f'(z) ≠ 0 for all z in C, this forces

    g'(z) ≠ 0 for all z in C.

    Thus, g'(z) = e^(h(z)) for some analytic h(z) on C.

    Next, we look at the second derivative.

    f'' = (g'' + (g')^2) e^g

    = (h' e^h + (e^h)^2) e^g

    = (h' + e^h) e^(g+h).

    Since we also want f''(z) ≠ 0 for all z in C, we require that

    h' + e^h ≠ 0.

    ---------

    Major case:

    This is certainly satisfied if h(z) is a nonzero constant

    Then, g'(z) = k for some nonzero k in C.

    ==> g(z) = kz + r for some r in C.

    ==> f(z) = e^(kz + r) = Ce^(kz) for some nonzero constants C and k.

    --

    Note that f^(n)(z) = Ck^n e^(kz) is never 0 for all z in C.

    Hence, we've found one such family of functions.

    ==========================

    Still to be addressed:

    Are there other functions which satisfy h' + e^h ≠ 0 for all z in C which will fit the criteria for this posted question?

    (This is certainly false if h(z) = az + b with a ≠ 0.)

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