Total defect of a meromorphic function and all its derivatives. II (Q689899)

Let \(f\) be a transcendental meromorphic function and \[ \Sigma(f)= \sum_{a\in C} \delta(a,f)+ \sum_{j=1}^ \infty \;\sum_{b\in C\setminus\{0\}} \delta(b,f^{(j)}), \] where \(\delta(a,f)\) denotes the usual Nevanlinna deficiency. In a previous paper [Result Math. 22, No. 1/2, 631-638 (1992; Zbl 0760.30012)] the author has shown that \(\Sigma(f)\leq 2\). Here he considers the extremal functions, that is, functions satisfying \(\Sigma(f)=2\). He proves that \(\Sigma(f)=2\) if and only if \(\sum_{a\in c} \delta(a,f)=2\). Functions of finite order satisfying the latter equation have been the object of much research, in particular by \textit{D. Drasin} [Acta Math. 158, 1-94 (1987; Zbl 0622.30028)], who proved a conjecture of F. Nevanlinna [see also \textit{A. Eh. Eremenko}, J. Sov. Math. 52, No. 6, 3522-3529 (1990; Zbl 0722.30018)]. Moreover, it is proved in the paper under review that if \(\Sigma(f)=2\), then \[ \sum_{b\in\overline{C}} \delta(b,f^{(k)})=\delta(0,f^{(k)})\leq {2 \over {k+1}} \] for \(k\geq 1\), with equality for functions of finite order. Similar results are obtained for the extremal functions in the inequality \[ \sum_{a\in C} \delta(a,f)+ \sum_{j=1}^ n \;\sum_{b\in C\setminus\{0\}} \delta(b,f^{(j)})+ \delta(\infty, f^{(n)})\leq 2. \] The proofs rely on the author's previous paper [loc. cit.] as well as on a result of \textit{W. K. Hayman} and \textit{J. Miles} [Complex Variables, Theory Appl. 12, No. 1-4, 245-260 (1989; Zbl 0678.30022)] concerning the comparative growth of \(T(r,f)\) and \(R(r,f')\).