Remarks on universal functions of \({\mathcal O}(C^{\ast})\) (Q1409323)

The authors consider the family \(A\) of all compact subsets \(K\) in the punctured complex plane \({\mathbb C}^* = {\mathbb C} \setminus \{0\}\) which are holomorphically convex with respect to \({\mathbb C}^*\), that is, such that the unique possible hole of \(K\) is one containing the origin. Then they prove that the family \(B\) of all compact subsets in \({\mathbb C}^*\) whose complements are connected is the maximal subfamily of \(A\) on which there exists a holomorphic function \(F\) in \({\mathbb C}^*\) which is universal, that is, such that for every holomorphic function \(f\) in \({\mathbb C}^*\), every \(K \in B\) and eve\-ry \(\varepsilon > 0\) there exists \(c \in {\mathbb C}^*\) satisfying \(\max_{z \in K} | F(cz) - f(z)| < \varepsilon\). This completes a result of Zappa in 1988. They also prove that any universal function of \({\mathbb C}^*\) on \(B\) is transcendental.