Transfinite extension to \(Q_m\)-normality theory (Q1428278)

P. Montel introduced the concept of normal families of meromorphic functions and he himself later extended this to the more general concept of quasinormality. This was further generalized by C.-T. Chuang who introduced the notion of \(Q_m\)-normality for a non-negative integer \(m,\) the cases \(m=0\) and \(m=1\) corresponding to normality and quasinormality. In the present paper this concept is further extended to the case where \(m\) is an ordinal number. Many results of the classical theory are carried over to this more general setting, including a version of the Zalcman lemma. The definition of \(Q_m\)-normality introduced distinguishes between the cases whether \(m\) has an immediate predecessor or whether \(m\) is a limit ordinal. A seemingly more natural definition which does not make this distinction is also discussed, but this definition turns out not to separate different degrees of non-normality as well as the definition used does.