Meromorphic extendibility and the argument principle (Q932953)

This paper is devoted to considering meromorphic extendability in terms of the argument principle. The author proved in [Contemp. Math. 382, 171--175 (2005; Zbl 1083.30036)] that a continuous function \(f:\partial D\rightarrow \mathbb{C}\) on the boundary of the unit disc extends holomorphically through \(D\) if and only if the winding number \(\mathcal{W}(f+Q)\) for \(f+Q\) around the origin is \(\geq 0\) for every polynomial \(Q\) having no zeros on \(\partial D\). This result is now extended to the meromorphic case as follows: A continuous function \(f:\partial D\rightarrow\mathbb{C}\) extends meromorphically through \(D\) if and only if there is a number \(N\in\mathbb{N}\cup {0}\) such that \(\mathcal{W}(Pg+Q)\geq -N\) for all polynomials \(P,Q\) such that \(Pf+Q\) has no zeros on \(\partial D\). In this situation, the extension of \(f\) has at most \(N\) poles in \(D\), counting multiplicity. Observe that it remains open whether the same conclusion follows if it is only assumed that \(P\equiv 1\). It also remains an open question, whether a suitable subclass of polynomials \(Q\) would be sufficient to imply the claim in the holomorphic case.