Principal branch


In mathematics, a principal branch is a function which selects one branch of a multi-valued function. Most often, this applies to functions defined on the complex plane.

Examples

Trigonometric inverses

Principal branches are used in the definition of many inverse trigonometric functions, such as the selection either to define that
or that

Exponentiation to fractional powers

A more familiar principal branch function, limited to real numbers, is that of a positive real number raised to the power of.
For example, take the relation, where is any positive real number.
This relation can be satisfied by any value of equal to a square root of . By convention, is used to denote the positive square root of.
In this instance, the positive square root function is taken as the principal branch of the multi-valued relation.

Complex logarithms

One way to view a principal branch is to look specifically at the exponential function, and the logarithm, as it is defined in complex analysis.
The exponential function is single-valued, where is defined as:
where.
However, the periodic nature of the trigonometric functions involved makes it clear that the logarithm is not so uniquely determined. One way to see this is to look at the following:
and
where is any integer and atan2| continues the values of the -function from their principal value range, corresponding to into the principal value range of the -function, covering all four quadrants in the complex plane.
Any number defined by such criteria has the property that.
In this manner log function is a multi-valued function. A branch cut, usually along the negative real axis, can limit the imaginary part so it lies between and. These are the chosen principal values.
This is the principal branch of the log function. Often it is defined using a capital letter,.