Biholomorphism


In the mathematical theory of functions of one or more complex variables, and also in complex algebraic geometry, a biholomorphism or biholomorphic function is a bijective holomorphic function whose inverse is also holomorphic.

Formal definition

Formally, a biholomorphic function is a function defined on an open subset U of the -dimensional complex space Cn with values in Cn which is holomorphic and one-to-one, such that its image is an open set in Cn and the inverse is also holomorphic. More generally, U and V can be complex manifolds. As in the case of functions of a single complex variable, a sufficient condition for a holomorphic map to be biholomorphic onto its image is that the map is injective, in which case the inverse is also holomorphic.
If there exists a biholomorphism, we say that U and V are biholomorphically equivalent or that they are biholomorphic.

Riemann mapping theorem and generalizations

If every simply connected open set other than the whole complex plane is biholomorphic to the unit disc. The situation is very different in higher dimensions. For example, open unit balls and open unit polydiscs are not biholomorphically equivalent for In fact, there does not exist even a proper holomorphic function from one to the other.

Alternative definitions

In the case of maps f : U → C defined on an open subset U of the complex plane C, some authors define a conformal map to be an injective map with nonzero derivative i.e., f’≠ 0 for every z in U. According to this definition, a map f : U → C is conformal if and only if f: U → f is biholomorphic. Other authors define a conformal map as one with nonzero derivative, without requiring that the map be injective. According to this weaker definition of conformality, a conformal map need not be biholomorphic even though it is locally biholomorphic. For example, if f: U → U is defined by f = z2 with U = C–, then f is conformal on U, since its derivative f’ = 2z ≠ 0, but it is not biholomorphic, since it is 2-1.