Unique continuation theorems for the\bar \partial - Operator and applications

We formulate a unique continuation principle for the inhomogeneous Cauchy-Riemann equations near a boundary pointz ₀ of a smooth domain in complex euclidean space. The principle implies that the Bergman projection of a function supported away fromz ₀ cannot vanish to infinite order atz ₀ unless it vanishes identically. We prove that the principle holds in planar domains and in domains where the problem is known to be analytic hypoelliptic. We also demonstrate the relevance of such questions to mapping problems in several complex variables. The last section of the paper deals with unique continuation properties of the Szegő projection and kernel in planar domains. Research supported by NSF Grant DMS-8922810.