Julia sets of rational semigroups (Q1906888)

Let \(G= \langle f_1, f_2, \dots, f_n \rangle\) be a semigroup of rational functions, generated by the rational functions \(f_1, f_2, \dots, f_n\), the semigroup operation being the composition of functions. The Julia set \(J(G)\) consists of those points on the Riemann sphere that do not have a neighbourhood \(U\) such that the restrictions of the elements of \(G\) to \(U\) form a normal family. The theory of rational semigroups forms a generalization of the iteration theory of a single rational function, but is also has unexpected connections to the theory of moduli spaces. The foundations for a Fatou-Julia type theory for rational semigroups have been developed in an earlier paper by the authors (The dynamics of semigroups of rational functions I, Australian National University preprint, 1993). In this paper it is shown that the Julia set of a finitely generated rational semigroup \(G\) is uniformly perfect. This means that there is a constant \(M> 0\) depending on \(G\) only such that whenever \(D\) is a doubly connected domain contained in the complement of \(J(G)\) (that is, in the Fatou set of \(G\)) and separating \(J(G)\), then the conformal module of \(D\) does not exceed \(M\). The analogous result for the Julia set \(J(f)\) of a single rational function \(f\) has been recently proved independently by \textit{R. Mañé} and \textit{L. F. da Rocha} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 116, No. 1, 251-257 (1992; Zbl 0763.30010)], by \textit{A. Eremenko} (preprint, Purdue University, 1992), and by \textit{A. Hinkkanen} [Math. Proc. Camb. Philos. Soc. 113, No. 3, 543-559 (1993; Zbl 0785.30012)]. As a corollary of this result, it is proved that a superattracting fixed point of any element of a finitely generated rational semigroup lies in either the Fatou set or in the interior of the Julia set. This has some bearing on the question of whether a finitely generated rational semigroup can have wandering domains. An example is given of an infinitely generated polynomial semigroup of finite type which contains a superattracting fixed point in the boundary of the Julia set, and whose Julia set is not uniformly perfect. Thus the results obtained for finitely generated rational semigroups are not, in general, valid for all rational semigroups.