Angular distribution of values of meromorphic functions of finite order (Q755924)

The author applies potential theory to several well-known aspects of value-distribution theory. His theory is based on a proximate order \(V(r)=r^{\rho (r)}\) associated to a given entire/meromorphic function, and so applies only to functions of finite order. However, the viewpoint has been applied in subsequent work along and with \textit{A. E. Eremenko}, and gives a new point of view to classical Nevanlinna theory (the ``limit form''). (This is discussed in part on p. 174). One example of the value of this approach is in Eremenko's simplified proof in [Teor. Funkts. Funkts. Anal. Prilozh. 51, 107-116 (1989; Zbl 0722.30018); ibid. 52, 69- 77 (1989)] of the reviewer's characterization of meromorphic functions having \(\sum_{a}\delta (a,f)=2.\) The method is to take V(r) as above, and consider cluster functions of the family \(u_ r(z)\equiv u(rz)/V(r)\), where u is subharmonic or \(\delta\)-subharmonic; thus u(z) may be taken as log\(| f(z)|\), \(| f(z)-a|\), \(\log | f_ 1-af_ 2|\), etc. In terms of the \(u_ r\), one can introduce a family of measure \(\mu_ r\) in the plane, and there is a natural notion of equivalence of measures and of functions. The theorems relate the value distribution of a ``typical'' a-value to the limit measure of the function \(\log^+| f| +\log | f_ 2|\), where \(f=f_ 1/f_ 2\). The author also gives an interpretation of the Borel directions of f: near each Borel direction, each typical a- value must have preimages whose cardinality is comparable to V(r).