On the zeros of the solutions of the equation \(w^{(k)} + (Re^ p + Q)w = 0\) (Q1173897)

The exponent of convergence \(\lambda(f)\) of the zero-sequence \((z_ 1,z_ 2,\dots)\) in \(| z| > 0\) of a function \(f(z)\) is defined as the infimum of all \(\alpha > 0\) for which the series \(| z_ 1|^{-\alpha} + | z_ 2|^{-\alpha}+ \dots\) converges if such an \(\alpha\) exists. Otherwise, \(\lambda(f)\) is defined to be infinity. The main result of this paper is the following. Let \(k\) be an integer greater than 1 and consider the equation (1) \(w^{(k)}+(Re^ P+Q)w=0\). Here \(R\), \(P\) and \(Q\) are polynomials with \(R\not\equiv 0\), \(\deg(P)=r\geq 1\), and \(\deg(Q)=n>kr-k\). Set \(Q(z)=a_ nz^ n+\dots\), \(P(z)=b_ rz^ r+\dots\), and let \(c_ 1,\dots,c_ k\) be the roots of the equation \(c^ k+a_ n=0\). Assume that there exists a number \(\theta_ 0\) in \((-\pi,\pi]\) for which (2) \(\cos(r\theta_ 0+\arg b_ r)=0\) and (3) \(\cos(((n+k)/k)\theta_ 0+\arg c_ j)\neq 0\) for \(j=1,\dots,k\). Then the exponent of convergence of the zero-sequence of any solution \(f\not\equiv 0\) of (1) is infinite. In the introduction the authors give a short survey of previous related results. They also explain why they need conditions (2) and (3) for their long and difficult proof. They conjecture that the conclusion \(\lambda(f)=\infty\) for all solutions \(f(z)\) of (1) holds also in the exceptional case, where no \(\theta_ 0\) exists satisfying (2) and (3) simultaneously.