A monotone slit mapping with large logarithmic derivative (Q2640720)

Suppose that f is analytic and univalent in the unit disk. For \(r\in (0,1)\) set \[ I(r)=I(r,f)=\frac{1}{2\pi}\int^{\pi}_{-\pi}| \frac{rf'(re^{i\theta})}{f(re^{i\theta})}|^ 2 d\theta. \] Biernacki (1946) proved that, as \(r\to 1\), \(I(r)=O((1-r)^{-1} \log (1- r)^{-1})\). When f is the Koebe function the log term is not needed. But Hayman (1980) showed that Biernacki's estimate is sharp in general by constructing a function for which \(I(r)\neq o((1-r)^{-1} \log (1-r)^{- 1}).\) Suppose, in addition, that the image domain by f is the complement of a monotone slit, that is, a curve \(\Gamma\) which intersects each circle \(| w| =R\) at most once. The reviewer and J. Brown (1982) proved that if \(\Gamma\) intersects each such circle at an angle at least \(\delta >0\), then \(I(r)\leq C(\delta)(1-r)^{-1}\), so that again the log term is not needed. In the paper under review the author shows that the uniform positive angle condition is necessary by constructing a monotone sit mapping for which I(r)\(\neq o((1-r)\log \log (1-r)^{-1})\). He transforms the question to one about strip domains of the form \({\mathcal D}=\{u+iv:\gamma (u)<v<\gamma (u)+2\pi \}\). Then he constructs \({\mathcal D}\) in two stages. The first domain has the form \(S\setminus (\cup^{\infty}_{j=1}I_ j)\), where S is the strip \(| Im w| <\pi\) and the \(I_ j\) are two symmetric slits of the form \(a_ j+iv\), with \(v\in [-\pi,-\pi /2]\cup [\pi /2,\pi]\) and \(a_ j\in {\mathbb{R}}\). Then he replaces the \(I_ j\) by appropriate polygonal lines to obtain a \({\mathcal D}\) of the required form. The details are formidable, but the very clear exposition enables the reader to sit back and enjoy the rich blend of function theoretic ingredients which go into the proof.