Uniqueness and value distribution of differences of entire functions (Q2431215)

This paper first treats the existence of entire solutions of finite order to difference equations of the type \[ F^{1}(z,f):=f(z)^{n+m}+\lambda f(z+c)^{m}=P(z)e^{Q(z)+a}, \] where \(a,c,\lambda\) are non-zero constants, \(n\geq m>0\) are integers, and \(P,Q\) are polynomials. The authors in fact prove that no such solutions exist, whenever \(n\geq 2\). The paper then continues by considering the value distribution of difference expressions of type \(F_{1}(z,f)\), resp. \(F_{2}(z,f):=f(z)^{n}+\mu f(z+c)^{m}\) of a transcendental entire function \(f\). Examples of results obtained are as follows: (1) If \(|\lambda |+|\mu |\neq 0\) and \(n\geq 2\), then either \(F_{1}(z,f)\) takes every non-zero complex value \(a\) infinitely many times in the complex plane, or \(f(z)=\exp (\frac{\log t}{c}z)g(z)\), where \(t=(-\mu /\lambda)^{1/m}\) and \(g(z)\) is periodic with period \(c\). (2) If \(a(z)\) is a small function with respect to \(f(z)\) (in the usual Nevanlinna theory sense) and \(n>m+1\geq 2\), then \(F_{2}(z,f)-a(z)\) has infinitely many zeros.