On a conjecture of Gackstatter and Laine (Q792484)

An admissible (meromorphic) solution w of an algebraic differential equation \(P(z,w,w',...,w^{(n)})=0\) with meromorphic coefficients \(a_ i(z)\) means \(T(r,a_ i(z))=S(r,w)\) for all coefficients of the equation. The conjecture of Gackstatter and Laine asserts that \((w')^ n=\sum^{n-k}_{i=0}a_ i(z)w^ i,\quad a_{n-k}(z)\not\equiv 0,\quad 1\leq k\leq n-1,\) does not admit admissible solutions. This conjecture is closely related with an unsolved problem from Nevanlinna theory due to Hayman. This paper contains the following theorem: The differential equation \((w')^ n=a_ 3w^ 3+a_ 2w^ 2+a_ 1w+a_ 0,\quad n\geq 4,\quad a_ 3\not\equiv 0,\) does not admit admissible solutions with the possible exception of the equation \((w')^ n=a_ 3(w+\alpha)^ 3,\quad \alpha \in {\mathbb{C}}.\) Some related lemmas dealing with the order of solutions are also included. Finally, we remark that a better version of the above theorem due to \textit{N. Toda} already appeared [see Kodai Math. J. 6, 238-249 (1983; Zbl 0534.34007)].