On the spherical derivative of a rational function (Q461365)

Let \(f\) be a rational function, that is, a holomorphic map from the Riemann sphere into itself. The authors estimate the quantity \[ K(f) = \max_{z\in\overline{\mathbb{C}}} \frac{|f^\prime(z)| (1+|z|^2)}{1+|f(z)|^2}. \] 1. For every \(d\geq 2\), there exists a rational function \(f\) of degree exactly \(d\) such that \[ K(f) \leq C\sqrt{d} \] for an absolute constant \(C\). 2. There exists an absolute constant \(c>1\) such that \[ K(f) \geq c\sqrt{d} \] for all rational functions of degree \(d\geq 2\). Also, the authors estimate the quantity \[ k_\infty(f) = \lim_{n\to\infty} \frac{1}{n} \log K(f^n), \] where \(f^n\) denotes the \(n\)-th iterate of \(f\).