Exceptional sets for certain differential polynomials of entire functions (Q816261)

Let \(\varepsilon\) be a positive number and \(E\) be a sequence of complex numbers which diverges to infinity and for which \(|a_m-a_n|> \varepsilon|a_m|\) when \(m\neq n\). If \(f\) is a transcendental entire function, then the author shows \(f'(z) f(z)\) takes every finite complex value, except possibly zero, infinitely often in \(\mathbb{C}\setminus E\). The spacing condition on the \(\{a_n\}\) improves an earlier one given by \textit{J. M. Anderson}, \textit{I. N. Baker} and \textit{J. G. Clunie} [Math. Z. 178, 509--525 (1981; Zbl 0473.30023)]. The proof is a technically involved refinement of their method making use of a theorem of \textit{P. D. Barry} [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser. 12, 445--495 (1962; Zbl 0196.41603)] on the ratio of the minimum modulus to the maximum modulus of \(f\) on a circle of radius \(r\) about the origin.