Entire functions of small growth that share one value with its linear differential polynomials (Q1876289)

Concerning the problem of uniqueness of an entire function and its derivative that share one value, some results have been obtained by \textit{L.-Z. Yang} [Kodai Math. J. 22, No. 3, 458--464 (1999; Zbl 1004.30021)] and \textit{Q. C. Zhang} [Kodai Math. J., 21, 179--184 (1998; Zbl 0932.30027)]. However, there are no corresponding results about the uniqueness of an entire function and its linear differential polynomial that share one value. In this paper, the relationship between an entire function of small growth \(f\) and its linear differential polynomial \(L(f)\) when they share one value is investigated by applying the value distribution theory and complex oscillation theory. Let \(f\) be a nonconstant entire function of order \(\sigma(f)< \frac 12\) and \(b(z)\) be a nonzero small function of \(f\). Let \(L(f)=a_kf^{(k)}+a_{k-1}f^{(k-1)}+\cdots+a_0f\), \(k\geq 1\), where \(a_j\), \(j=0,1,\dots,k\), are polynomials and \(a_k\not\equiv 0\). The author proves the following main conclusions: (1) If \(f-b(z)=0\to L(f)-b(z)=0\), then \[ \frac{L(f)-b(z)} {f-b(z)}=Q(z), \] where \(Q(z)\) is a nonzero polynomial. (2) If \(f-b(z)=0\to L(f)-b(z)=0\) and \((\text{deg}\,a_j-\text{deg}\,a_i)/(j-i) \leq\frac 12\) for any \(i\neq j\), \(i,j\in\{1,\dots,k\}\), then \[ \frac{L(f)-b(z)}{f-b(z)}=Q(z) \] where the nonzero polynomial \(Q(z)\) satisfies \(\deg Q\leq\max \{\deg a_j\mid j=0,1, \dots,k\}\).