A result of complex oscillation for differential equations \(f''+(Q_1e^P+Q_2)f=0\) (Q674666)

Let \(Q_1, Q_2, P\) be entire functions such that \(T(r,Q_i)=S(r,e^P)\) for \(i=1,2\). Characterizing complex differential equations of type \[ f'+(Q_1(z)e^{P(z)}+Q_2(z))f=0 \] such that at least one solution \(f\) has a few (or no) zeros has been studied in several articles during the last decade, see e.g. the article by \textit{Y.-M. Chiang, S. Wang} and the reviewer [Math. Scand. 77, No. 2, 209-224 (1995; Zbl 0853.34005)]. In the present article, the case where \(Q_1\),\(Q_2\) are meromorphic functions such that \(T(r,Q_i)=S(r,e^P)\) for \(i=1,2\) is considered by invoking, in addition, ideas from \textit{St. B. Bank} and the reviewer [Comment. Math. Helv. 58, 657-677 (1983; Zbl 0532.34008)]. The main result reads as follows: Let \(\sigma\) be the order of \(e^P\) and assume that the exponents of convergence for the zero- and pole-sequences of \(f\) satisfy \(\max(\lambda (f),\lambda (f^{-1})) < \sigma \). Then all poles \(z_0\) of \(Q_1\) are double such that \(\lim_{z\to z_0}(z-z_0)^{2}Q_1(z)e^{P(z)}=- q^2/4\), \(q\) an odd integer, and all zeros of \(Q_1\) are of multiplicity divisible by four. Moreover, \(Q_2(z)=\frac{1}{4} (P'+Q_1'/Q_1)'- \frac{1}{16} (P'+Q_1'/Q_1)^2\). Conversely, under the above conditions, there are two linearly independent solutions \(f_1\),\(f_2\) such that (1) all zeros of \(f_1\) and \(f_2\) are poles of \(Q_1\) and \(\max (\overline{\lambda}(f_1),\overline{\lambda}(f_2))\leq \overline{\lambda}(Q_1^{-1})\) and (2) all zeros of \(Q_1\) are poles of \(f_1\) and \(f_2\) with the same multiplicity and \(\lambda (1/f_1)=\lambda (1/f_2)=\lambda (Q_1)\).