Digital Library of Mathematical Functions
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5 Gamma Function

Sidebar 5.SB1: Gamma & Digamma Phase Plots

Charles Clark
See accompanying text

The color encoded phases of \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(z\right) (above) and \mathop{\psi\/}\nolimits\!\left(z\right) (below), are constrasted in the negative half of the complex plane.

In the upper half of the image, the poles of \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(z\right) are clearly visible at negative integer values of z: the phase changes by 2\pi around each pole, showing a full revolution of the color wheel. This pattern is analogous to one that would be seen in fluid flow generated by a semi-infinite line of vortices.

In the lower half of the image, the poles of \mathop{\psi\/}\nolimits\!\left(z\right) (corresponding to the poles of \mathop{\Gamma\/}\nolimits\!\left(z\right)) and the zeros between them are clear. Phase changes around the zeros are of opposite sign to those around the poles. The fluid flow analogy in this case involves a line of vortices of alternating sign of circulation, resulting in a near cancellation of flow far from the real axis.