No label defined (Q4948085)

Let \(k\) be a positive integer and let \(a_0,\dots,a_{k-1}\) and \(b_0,\dots,b_{k-1}\) be rational functions with \(a_j\not\equiv b_j\) for at least one \(j\). Assume that the equations \[ w^{(k)}+\sum_{j=0}^{k-1}a_jw^{(j)}=0,\qquad w^{(k)}+\sum_{j=0}^{k-1}b_jw^{(j)}=0, \] have no non-trivial common (local) solutions. Let \(f\) be meromorphic in the plane such that \[ f^{(k)}+\sum_{j=0}^{k-1}a_jf^{(j)},\qquad f^{(k)}+\sum_{j=0}^{k-1}b_jf^{(j)} \] both have only finitely many zeros. The authors prove that \(f\) has finite order and finitely many zeros and \(f'/f\) has a representation \[ \frac{f'(z)}{f(z)}=Y(z)+\frac{P_0(Q(z)+\log S(z))(Q'(z)+S'(z)/S(z))}{S(z)e^{Q(z)}-1}, \] in which \(S\) and \(Y\) are rational functions and \(Q\) and \(P_0\) are polynomials, and at least one of \(P_0\) and \(S\) is constant. This result is a natural generalization of the following theorem due to Frank, Hennekemper and Polloczek [\textit{G. Frank}, Math. Z. 149, 29-36 (1976; Zbl 0321.30034) and \textit{G. Frank}, \textit{W. Hennekemper}, \textit{G. Polloczek}, Math. Ann. 225, 145-154 (1977; Zbl 0332.30012)] for \(k\geq 3\) and \textit{J. K. Langley} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 48, 500-514 (1993; Zbl 0789.30020)] for \(k=2\): Suppose that \(f\) is meromorphic in the plane and that \(f\) and \(f^{(k)}\) have only finitely many zeros for some \(k\geq 2\). Then \(f(z)=R(z)e^{P(z)}\) with \(R\) a rational function and \(P\) a polynomial.