Complex analysis. Transl. from the German by Dan Fulea (Q5901368)

The first edition [Zbl 0783.30001] of this originally German textbook on the classic theory of functions of a complex variable appeared in 1993. Thereafter, in the course of the following decade, the authors have improved this popular text by successive revisions and enlargements, thereby following the continuously growing number of hints, suggestions, and demands communicated to them by colleagues, students, and other engaged readers. As a result, two new editions of the book were brought about in relatively short time. More precisely, the second German edition [Zbl 0928.30001] was published in 1995, while the third one [Zbl 1058.30500] became available in 2000. Another five years later, in 2005, an English translation [Zbl 1085.30001] of the then forthcoming fourth German edition of this meanwhile widely used primer was provided, again with further material added. In the meantime, the fourth edition of the German version of the text has appeared, too. The book under review is the second English edition of the well-tried introduction to classic complex analysis of one variable by E. Freitag and R. Busam. Having left the text of the foregoing first English edition largely intact, the authors have nevertheless followed further useful suggestions to improve the text by minor corrections and additions. Compared to the original German edition published sixteen years ago, the exposition appears now in substantially clarified and polished form, enhanced by a large number of illustrating applications, instructive examples, and accompanying related exercises, together with guiding hints as for solutions to the latter. Now as before, the material is organized in seven chapters covering the following topics: 1. Differential calculus in the complex plane \(\mathbb{C}\), including complex derivatives and the Cauchy-Riemann differential equations. 2. Integral calculus in the complex plane \(\mathbb{C}\), focussing on Cauchy's integral theorem and on Cauchy's integral formulas. 3. Sequences and series of analytic functions, covering the method of uniform approximation, power series, mapping properties of analytic functions, singularities of analytic functions, Laurent series, the residue theorem, and concrete applications of the residue theorem. 4. Construction of analytic functions, explaining the Gamma function, the Weierstrass product formula, the Mittag-Leffler partial fraction decomposition, and the weak version of the Riemann mapping theorem. Two appendices to this chapter discuss the homotopical version and the homological version of the Cauchy integral theorem, respectively, whilst a third appendix provides characterizations of elementary plane domains. 5. Elliptic functions, comprising Liouville's theorems, double periodic functions, period lattices, one-dimensional complex tori, the Weierstrass \(\wp\)-function, the field of elliptic functions, the addition theorem for the \(\wp\)-function, elliptic integrals, Abel's theorem, the elliptic modular group, and the modular \(j\)-function. 6. Elliptic modular forms, providing an introduction to the elementary theory by discussing the Siegel modular group and its fundamental region, the so-called ``\(k/12\)-formula'' for meromorphic modular forms of weight \(k\), the algebra of modular forms, theta series, modular forms for congruence subgroups, the theta group, and rings of theta functions. 7. Analytic number theory, emphasizing some of the fascinating applications of complex-analytic methods in this classic area of mathematics. This includes the use of Eisenstein series and their Fourier expansion for computing the number of representations of a natural number as a sum of four or eight squares, Dirichlet series and their role in number theory, the Riemann zeta function in the theory of distribution of prime numbers, and finally a complex-analytic proof of the prime number theorem with a weak form for the error term. This proof of a version of the prime number theorem is based on rather elementary properties of the Riemann zeta function, uses as few advanced methods as possible, and is therefore particularly accessible and instructive for students. There is an additional Chapter 8 providing rather detailed solutions to the vast number of carefully selected exercises that accompany each single section of the book. These exercises often lead the reader to supplementary concepts and results, thereby enhancing both the main text and the value of the book tremendously. All together, this introduction to complex analysis is fairly special, and somehow unique within the existing related textbook literature. Its main features can be summarized as follows: The authors present, apart from the standard material, a wide range of topics that are usually not covered by introductory texts, but certainly belong to the basic knowledge of modern complex analysis. From the very beginning on, the geometric aspects of complex analysis are strongly emphasized and serve as driving motivation, thereby reflecting the contemporary viewpoint in combination with the classical heritage of Cauchy, Abel, Jacobi, Riemann, and Weierstrass in very instructive a manner. In spite of the many extras offered by this fine book, the authors have spent great effort to introduce as few notions as possible in order to quickly advance to the core of the respective topic and, in this vein, have striven to give simplified ad-hoc proofs of general theorems in special contexts whenever possible. Also, many of the fundamental concepts and results are discussed from various viewpoints, which helps the reader acquire a thorough understanding of the matter. Finally, the entire exposition stands out by its lucidity, elegance, depth, and versatility. The numerous historical remarks certainly underline the authors' didactic mastery, just as the carefully compiled bibliography does. No doubt, this excellent, comprehensive, and nearly self-contained textbook on complex analysis deserves a wide international audience of readers, who will profit a great deal from studying it. As the authors point out, a forthcoming second volume of their treatise, with a special emphasis placed on Riemann surfaces, is to appear in the near future, which the mathematical community will appreciate just as well.