Meromorphic solutions of certain difference equations of first order (Q2510419)

By means of value distribution theory, the author considers difference equations of the form \[ \begin{multlined} a_0(z)f(z+c)^2+\left(b_2(z)f(z)^2+b_1(z)f(z)+b_0(z)\right)f(z+c)\\ =d_4(z)f(z)^4+d_3(z)f(z)^3+d_2(z)f(z)^2+d_1(z)f(z)+d_0(z), \end{multlined}\tag{1} \] where the coefficients are meromorphic functions, and \(a_0(z)\not\equiv0\). We call a transcendental meromorphic solution \(f(z)\) of (1) an ``admissible solution'' if all the coefficients are small functions with respect to \(f(z)\) in the sense of Nevanlinna theory. Recall some results in complex differential equations. The Malmquist theorem states that if \(w'=R(z,w)\), where \(R(z,w)\) is a rational function in \(z\) and \(w\), possesses a transcendental meromorphic solution, then \(w'=R(z,w)\) reduces to the Riccati equation. \textit{N. Yanagihara} [Funkc. Ekvacioj, Ser. Int. 23, 309--326 (1980; Zbl 0474.30024)] gave a difference counterpart of the Malmquist theorem. If \(f(z+1)=R(z,f)\) possesses a transcendental meromorphic solution of finite order, then \(R(z,f)\) is a linear function of \(f\). In other words, if \(\deg_fR(z,f)\geq2\) then all transcendental meromorphic solutions of \(f(z+1)=R(z,f)\) are of infinite order. \textit{N. Steinmetz} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 316, 44--53 (1980; Zbl 0426.34011)] investigated the differential equation \[ C(z,w)(w')^2+B(z,w)(w')+A(z,w)=0,\tag{2} \] where \(A(z,w)\), \(B(z,w)\) and \(C(z,w)\) are polynomials in \(z\) and \(w\). He obtained that if (2) possesses a transcendental meromorphic solution, then it can be reduced to equation (2) with \(\deg_wC(z,w)\leq1\), \(\deg_wB(z,w)\leq2\) and \(\deg_wA(z,w)\leq4\). This is a Malmquist type theorem for (2). In this paper, the author obtains difference counterparts of the Steinmetz theorem. One of the main results is the following. Let \(c\in \mathbb C\setminus \{0\}\). Suppose that \(d_4(z)\not\equiv0\) and (1) possesses an admissible solution \(f(z)\). Then \(f(z)\) is of infinite order. The author gives examples of entire solutions to show that the result fails if \(d_4(z)\equiv0\).