Holomorphic flexibility properties of the space of cubic rational maps (Q490765)

A complex manifold \(Y\) is called an Oka manifold if it satisfies the basic Oka property with interpolation: Any continuous map from a Stein manifold \(Y\) to \(X\) can be homotopically deformed to a holomorphic map. Moreover, if the map is holomorphic on a subvariety \(A\) of \(Y\), the homotopy can be chosen such that the map stays fixed on \(A\). There are many equivalent characterisations of Oka manifolds, see the textbook of \textit{F. Forstnerič} [Stein manifolds and holomorphic mappings. The homotopy principle in complex analysis. Berlin: Springer (2011; Zbl 1247.32001)] for details. An Oka manifold is always strongly dominable and strongly \(\mathbb{C}\)-connected. A complex manifold \(Y\) is called strongly dominable if for every point \(p \in Y\) there exists a holomorphic map \(f : \mathbb{C}^n \to Y\) with \(f(0) = p\) which is submersive in \(0\). Since this condition is much weaker than being an Oka manifold, one could expect to find many examples of strongly dominable manifolds which are not Oka. However, so far no such examples are known. In this paper, the author investigates the question whether the space of holomorphic self-maps of the Riemann sphere is an Oka manifold. This space is of course just the space of rational functions in one complex variable. Let \(R_d\) denote the space of rational functions of degree \(d\) in one complex variable. Then, the following results are proved: {\parindent=6mm \begin{itemize}\item[-] \(R_2\) is an Oka manifold. (Corollary 1.2) \item[-] \(R_3\) is strongly dominable (Theorem 1.7) and strongly \(\mathbb{C}\)-connected (Theorem 1.8) \end{itemize}} Whether \(R_3\) is an Oka manifold, remains an open question.