A problem in the theory of entire functions of bounded index (Q1605599)

Let \(f\) be an entire function. Let \(M(r,f)=\max\{|f(z)|:|z|=r\}\), and let \(J(r,f)=\max\{j: M(r,f^{(j)})/j!\geq M(r,f^{(n)})/n!\), \(n\in \mathbb Z_+\}\). Let \(K\) be the class of positive analytic on \([0,+\infty)\) functions \(l\) such that \(l(x+O(1/l(x)))=O(l(x))\), \(x\to+\infty\). Let \(\Omega\) be the class of positive on \((-\infty,+\infty)\) functions \(\Phi(x)\) such that the derivative \(\Phi'(x)\) is continuous positive increasing to \(+\infty\) functions on \((-\infty,+\infty)\). For \(\Phi\in\Omega\) let \(\Psi(x)=x-\Phi(x)/\Phi'(x)\) be a function associated with \(\Phi\) in the Newton sense. The main theorem of the paper is the following. Let \(\Phi\in\Omega\), \(\Phi'(x)=O(\Phi'(\Psi(x))\) and \(\Phi'(x+O(e^{-x}))=O(\Phi'(x))\) as \(x\to\infty\). Let \(l\in K\) and let \(l(r)=\Phi'(\ln(r))/r\) for \(r\geq r_0\). If an entire function \(f\) is of bounded \(l\)-index, then \(J(r,f)=O(l(r))\) as \(r\to+\infty\). For similar results see \textit{G. Frank} [Arch. Math. 22, 175-180 (1971; Zbl 0223.30031)] and \textit{G. Frank} and \textit{E. Mues} [Math. Ann. 195, 114-120 (1972; Zbl 0215.13101)].