Luis T. Magalhaes – författare

This textbook has been designed to support the initial study of Complex Analysis, progressing to Complex Dynamics. It focuses on the fundamental aspects of one-variable complex functions, covering the geometric theory and dynamics of iterations of rational mappings. Following the standard material, the book delves into an extensive range of advanced topics, encompassing the requirements for a one-year graduate-level course or a preliminary exam.

In this work, the reader will discover three distinctive characteristics: it simplifies and unifies ideas and concepts that might appear disparate or complicated in real analysis; it contributes to the development of other areas in mathematics; and it showcases relevance for applications in Science and Engineering, with many exercises. Historical notes throughout the text help to contextualize the theory.

With its flexible structure, this textbook provides a solid foundation for a first course in Complex Analysis and for a second more advanced course, establishing a robust basis for subsequent studies.

This book comprehensively explores the foundations of quasiconformal mappings in the complex plane, especially in view of applications to complex dynamics. Besides playing a crucial role in dynamical systems these mappings have important applications in complex analysis, geometry, topology, potential theory and partial differential equations, functional analysis and calculus of variations, electrostatics and nonlinear elasticity . The work covers standard material suitable for a one-year graduate-level course and extends to more advanced topics, in an accessible way even for students in an initial phase of university studies who have learned the basics of complex analysis at the usual level of a rigorous first one-semester course on the subject. 

At the frontier of complex analysis with real analysis, quasiconformal mappings appeared in 1859-60 in  the cartography work of A. Tissot, well before the term “quasiconformal” was coined by L. Ahlfors in 1935. The detailed study of these mappings began in 1928 by H. Grötzsch, and L. Ahlfors’ seminal work published in 1935 significantly contributed to their development and was considered for awarding him the Fields Medal in 1936. The theory further evolved in 1937 and 1939 with O. Teichmüller’s contributions, and subsequent advancements are partially covered in this book. 

Organized into ten chapters with eight appendices, this work aims to provide an accessible, self-contained approach to the subject and includes examples  at various levels and extensive applications to holomorphic dynamics. Throughout the text, historical notes contextualize advancements over time. 

A sequel to the author’s previous book, ‘Complex Analysis and Dynamics in One Variable with Applications,’ also published by Springer, this volume might be suitable for students in mathematics, physics, or engineering. A solid background in basic mathematical analysis is recommended to fully benefit from its content.