Iterated order of solutions of linear differential equations in the unit disc (Q2435434)

One of the standard tools of investigating the growth of solutions of the linear differential equation \[ f^{(k)}+ A_{k-1}(z)f^{(k-1)}+\dots +A_{0}(z)f=0, \eqno(1) \] where \(A_j\), \(j\in \{0, \dots, k-1\}\) are analytic, is the logarithmic derivative estimate. Due to \textit{G. Gundersen} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 37, No. 1, 88--104 (1988; Zbl 0638.30030)] and the reviewer, \textit{G. Gundersen} and \textit{J. Heittokangas} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 86, No. 3, 735--754 (2003; Zbl 1044.34049)] the logarithmic derivative admits an upper estimate outside a set of discs \(D(z_j, r_j)=\{z: |z-z_j|< r_j\}\) satisfying \(\sum_j \frac{r_j}{|z_j|}<\infty\) for a meromorphic function \(f\) in the complex plane and \(\sum_j \frac{r_j}{1-|z_j|}<\infty\), \(r_j< 1-|z_j|\), for the unit disc case. Thus, if the coefficient \(A_0\) dominates on a set \(E\) such that \( E\setminus \bigcup_j D(z_j, r_j)\) has infinity (or a point on the unit circle) as a limit point, then all non-trivial solutions have a growth defined by \(A_0\). In the paper, this approach is specified for the case when \(E\) is a curve with the end on the unit circle and the growth of coefficients of (1) is compared with \((1-|z|)^\mu\), \(\mu >0\) or iterations of the exponent of this function. In particular, a result of \textit{J. Heittokangas} et al. [Result. Math. 49, No. 3--4, 265--278 (2006; Zbl 1120.34071)] is improved.