On subnormal solutions of second order linear periodic differential equations (Q2454659)

The authors study the growth of solutions of the linear periodic differential equation \[ f''+(P_1(e^z)+P_2(e^{-z}))f'+ (Q_1(e^z)+Q_2(e^{-z}))f=R_1(e^z)+R_2(e^{-z}) \tag{1} \] and its corresponding homogeneous equation \[ f''+(P_1(e^z)+P_2(e^{-z}))f'+ (Q_1(e^z)+Q_2(e^{-z}))f=0, \tag{2} \] where \(P_j(z), Q_j(z), R_j(z)\) \((j = 1,2)\) are polynomials in \(z\). It is well-known that all solution of (2) are entire functions. Let \(\sigma(f)\) denote the order of growth of \(f(z)\) and use the notation \(\sigma_2(f)\) to denote the hyper-order of \(f(z)\). Theorem 1. If \[ \deg Q_1>\deg P_1\quad\text{or}\quad \deg Q_2>\deg P_2,\tag{3} \] then the differential equation (2) has no nontrivial subnormal solution, and every solution of (2) satisfies \(\sigma_2(f)=1\). Theorem 2. If \(R_1+R_2\neq 0\) and \(P_j, Q_j\) (\(j=1,2\)) satisfy (3), then (i) (1) has at most one subnormal solution \(f_0\), and \(f_0=S_1(e^z)+S_2(e^{-z})\), where \(S_1(z)\) and \(S_2(z)\) are polynomials in \(z\); (ii) all other solutions \(f\) of (1) satisfy \(\sigma_2(f)=1\) except a subnormal solution in (i). Theorem 2 refines and generalizes a result due to G. Gundersen and M. Steinbart for \(P_2=Q_2=0\).