A new approach to normality criterion (Q1895721)

\textit{D. Drasin} [Acta Math. 122, 231-263 (1969; Zbl 0176.028)] used Nevanlinna theory to establish a normality criterion for a family \({\mathcal F}\) of functions \(f(z)\) holomorphic in a domain \(D\). If each \(f\in {\mathcal F}\) satisfies \(f'+ f^n\neq b\) in \(D\), where \(n\geq 3\) and \(b\in \mathbb{C}\), then the family \({\mathcal F}\) is normal in \(D\). The author shows that if \(f' (z)+ f^n (z) =b\) for some \(z\in D\), the family is still normal in \(D\) under appropriate conditions. Let \(n\geq 2\), \(k\geq 1\), \(b\), \(a_0, \dots, a_{k-1}\in \mathbb{C}\). Let \(E(f)= \{z\in D\): \(f^{(k)} (z)+ \sum_{m=0}^{k-1} a_m f^{(m)} (z)+ f(z)^n= b\}\). If there is a constant \(M>0\) such that, for every \(f\in {\mathcal F}\) and \(z\in E(f)\), \(|f^{(i)} (z)|\leq M\) \((i=1, \dots, k+1)\), then \({\mathcal F}\) is a normal family in \(D\). \textit{W. Schwick} [J. Anal. Math. 52, 241-289 (1989; Zbl 0667.30028)] gave the following normality criterion for a family \({\mathcal F}\) of meromorphic functions in a domain \(D\). If each \(f\in {\mathcal F}\) satisfies \((f^n)^{ (k)} \neq 1\) in \(D\), where \(n\geq k+3\), then the family \({\mathcal F}\) is normal in \(D\). Again, for the equality case, the author shows that if \(|f(z) |\geq M\) for \(z\in E(f)= \{z\in E\): \((f^n)^{(k)} =1\}\), then \({\mathcal F}\) is a normal family in \(D\). In addition to Nevanlinna theory, the author's proofs make use of the now well-known normality criterion of \textit{L. Zalcman} [Am. Math. Monthly 82, 813-817 (1975; Zbl 0315.30036)].