complex numbers - When does $sqrt{wz}=sqrt{w}sqrt{z}$?

There exists a unique function $\sqrt{*} : \mathbb{C} \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$ such that for all $r \in [0,\infty)$ and $\theta \in (-\pi,\pi]$ it holds that

$$\sqrt{r\exp(i\theta)}=\sqrt{r}\exp(i\theta/2),$$

where $\sqrt{r}$ denotes the usual principal square root of a real number $r$.

Lets take this as our definition of the principal square root of a complex number. Thus $i=\sqrt{-1}.$

Now. We know that, for all positive real $w$ and $z$, it holds that $\sqrt{wz}=\sqrt{w}\sqrt{z}$. We also know that this fails for certain complex $w$ and $z$. Otherwise, we'd be allowed to argue as follows:

$$-1 = i\cdot i = \sqrt{-1} \cdot \sqrt{-1} = \sqrt{-1 \cdot -1} = \sqrt{1}=1$$

My question: for which complex $w$ and $z$ does it hold that $\sqrt{wz}=\sqrt{w}\sqrt{z}$?

Answer

The solution to this question requires the definition of the unwinding number. Check the paper The unwinding number by Corless and Jeffrey, SIGSAM Bulletin 116, pp. 28-35.

The unwinding number is defined by

$$\ln(e^z) = z + 2 \pi i \mathcal{K}(z).$$
Obviously, $\mathcal{K}(z) \in \mathbb{Z}$.

For your question, Theorem 5 is the most relevant one, along with the point 1 in the second list in section 5.2:

1. $\sqrt{zw}$. By theorem (5c) we would expect this to expand to
   $$\sqrt{z}\sqrt{w}e^{\pi i \mathcal{K}(\ln z + \ln w)}$$
   and this would not simplify further unless the assume system knew that $-\pi < \arg z + \arg w \le \pi$, in which case $\mathcal{K}$ would simplify to $0$.

Read the paper for a deeper insight.