On the zeros of solutions of a class of second order linear differential equations (Q988518)

The authors consider the exponent of convergence of the zero-sequence of the solutions of the second-order linear differential equation \[ f''+\Biggl(\sum^\ell_{j=1} Q_j(z) e^{P_j(z)}\Biggr)\,f= 0,\tag{1} \] where \(P_j(z)= \zeta_j z^n+\cdots\), \(j= 1,2,\dots,\ell\), \(\ell\geq 3\) are polynomials of degree \(n\geq 1\), \(Q_j(z)\) are entire functions of order less than \(n\). The cases \(\ell= 2\) and \(\ell= 3\) are treated in [\textit{K. Ishizaki} and \textit{K. Tohge}, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 206, No.2, 503--517 (1997; Zbl 0877.34009)] and \textit{J. Tu} and \textit{Z.-X. Chen} [J. Math. Anal. Appl. 332, No. 1, 279--291 (2007; Zbl 1125.34071)], rspectively. The main theorem in this paper is the following: (i) If \(\zeta_1/\zeta_2\) is non-real, \(0<\lambda_j= \zeta_j/\zeta_2< 1/2\), \(j= 3,\dots,\ell\), then any solution \(f\not\equiv 0\) of (1) satisfies \(\lambda(f)=\infty\). (ii) If \(0<\zeta_1/\zeta_2< 1/4\), \(\lambda_j= \zeta_j/\zeta_2> 0\), and \(\sum^\ell_{j=3} \lambda_j< 1\), then any solution \(f\not\equiv 0\) of (1) satisfies \(\lambda(f)\geq n\). The tools of their proof are Nevanlinna theory and the results in [\textit{G. G. Gundersen}, J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 37, No. 1, 88--104 (1988; Zbl 0638.30030)].