Zeros of solutions of certain second order linear differential equation (Q882011)

The authors study the exponent convergence \(\lambda(f)\) of the zeros of a non-trivial (entire) solution~\(f\) to the linear differential equation \[ f^{\prime\prime}+\bigl\{Q_1(z)e^{P_1(z)}+ Q_2(z)e^{P_2(z)}+Q_3(z)e^{P_3(z)}\bigr\}f=0\,,\tag{1} \] where the \(P_j\) are polynomials of degree~\(n\geq 1\) with \(P_j(z)=\zeta_jz^n+\cdots\,,\) \((\zeta_j\in\mathbb{C})\) and the \(Q_j(\not\equiv 0)\) are entire functions of order less than~\(n\) \((j=1,2,3)\). Theorem~\(1\) states that (i) If \(\zeta_2/\zeta_1\) is non-real, \(0<\zeta_3/\zeta_2<1/2\), then \(\lambda(f)=\infty\) holds for any solution \(f(\not\equiv 0)\) of~(1). (ii) If \(0<\zeta_2/\zeta_1<1/4\), \(0<\zeta_3/\zeta_2<1\), then for any solution \(f(\not\equiv 0)\) of~\((1)\), we have \(\lambda(f)\geq n\). The result is proved in a well-known way as in previous works by \textit{S. B. Bank}, \textit{I. Laine} and \textit{J. K. Langley} [Result. Math. 16, 3--15 (1989; Zbl 0705.34008)], \textit{K. Ishizaki} and the reviewer [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 206, 503--517 (1997; Zbl 0877.34009)], \textit{K. Ishizaki} [Hokkaido Math. J. 26, 421--434 (1997; Zbl 0885.34003)].