Nevanlinna theory of the Askey-Wilson divided difference operator (Q1744543)

The authors establish a new Nevanlinna theory in the Askey-Wilson-type setting by introducing the so-called Askey-Wilson-type divided difference operators. They define Askey-Wilson-type counting functions and Askey-Wilson-type characteristic functions for meromorphic functions. These notions are intentional and useful, and are later, in Section 12, applied to the study of solutions of difference equations. The subjects are widely considered and results are abundantly obtained. The authors first prove an Askey-Wilson-type logarithmic difference lemma in Theorem 3.1, which leads to the very useful Theorem 3.2. Then they derive an Askey-Wilson-type second main theorem: Theorem 3.5, the most important result of the paper. Based on the logarithmic lemma and the second main theorem, the authors study a defect relation, which is very similar to the defect relation in the classical setting. They also consider the value sharing problem and obtain a five-value theorem. Finally, they give some applications of the Askey-Wilson-type Nevanlinna theory to complex difference equations. Unquestionably in my opinion, the results are original and the work is awesome!