Multiplicity and boundary behavior of quasiregular maps (Q2484060)

As well-known, \(K\)-quasiregular (qr) maps in \(\mathbf{R}^n, n \geq 2,\) generalize the theory of analytic functions of one complex variable. Therefore many classical results of geometric function theory have their counterparts for qr maps. In this thesis the author studies the boundary behavior of qr maps from this point of view. The starting point of the thesis is a paper of the reviewer [\textit{M. Vuorinen}, Math. Z. 190, 95-106 (1985; Zbl 0546.30018)] and a problem stated there, and solved recently by [\textit{P. Järvi}, J. Anal. Math. 82, 347-362 (2000; Zbl 0970.30011)]. Järvi proved that if \(K \geq 1\) and \(\mathbf{B}^n \subset \mathbf{R}^n\) is the unit ball, then there exists explicit constants \(c=c(n,K)\geq 1, d=d(n,K)>0\) such that whenever \(f : \mathbf{B}^n \to f(\mathbf{B}^n) \subset \mathbf{B}^n\) is \(K\)-qr with \(f(0)=0,\) then \(| f(x)| \leq c| x| ^{\beta}\) for \(| x| \leq 1/2\) where \(\beta= d \, i(0,f)^{1/(n-1)} \,\) and \(i(0,f)\) stands for the local topological index at \(0\,.\) This is a version of the Schwarz lemma with multiplicity for qr maps. Note, in particular, that if \(K(f) \leq K\) and \(i(0,f) \to \infty\, ,\) then \[ \sup \{ | f(x)| : | x| \leq 1/2 \} \to 0 \,. \] The above Schwarz lemma enables one to refine the results in [Math. Z. 190, 95-106 (1985; Zbl 0546.30018)]. A classical result of Koebe states that if the values of a bounded analytic function approach a limit \(\alpha\) along a sequence \((C_j)\) of continua with the Euclidean diameters satisfying \(d(C_j)\geq d_0>0\) for all \(j\), then \(f \equiv \alpha \,.\) The condition about the Euclidean diameters can be replaced with a condition which ties together the hyperbolic diameter of \(C_j\) and the rate of convergence of \(f(x), x \in C_j,\) to \(\alpha\) as shown by \textit{D. C. Rung} [J. Math. Kyoto Univ. 8, 417-464 (1968; Zbl 0176.02902)]. A qr counterpart of Rung's result was given by the reviewer in [Math. Z. 190, 95--106 (1985; Zbl 0546.30018] and the author now refines this result, by using the multiplicity of a map. Another theme is to study whether the existence of a limit of a bounded qr mapping \(f : \mathbf{B}^n \to f(\mathbf{B}^n) \subset \mathbf{B}^n\) along a sequence of points \((b_k)\) enables one to conclude the existence of the same limit along a more massive set (such a the union of hyperbolic disks/balls centered at the points \(b_k\)). An example shows that this is not true in general, but, as the author proves, this holds if the \(i(b_k,f) \to \infty\) when \(k \to \infty \,.\) The author gives an example due to P. Lappan to show the sharpness of his results.