Pointwise convergence on the boundary in the Denjoy-Wolff theorem (Q990320)

If \(\phi\) is an analytic self-map of the unit disk \(D\) (that is not an elliptic automorphism), the Denjoy-Wolff theorem predicts the existence of a point \(p\) with \(|p|\leq 1\) such that the iterates \(\phi_n= \phi\circ\phi\circ\cdots\circ\phi\) (\(n\) times) converge to \(p\) uniformly on compact subsets of \(D\). Since the iterates are bounded analytic functions, there is a subset of \(\partial D\) of full measure where they are all well-defined. Extending his earlier work in [Mich. Math. J. 44, No. 3, 495--507 (1997; Zbl 0897.30014)], the author addresses the question of whether convergence to \(p\) still holds almost everywhere on \(\partial D\). He shows first that, when \(|p|< 1\) (the elliptic case), pointwise almost everywhere convergence holds if and only if \(\phi\) is not an inner function. Next, let \(\phi\) be a hyperbolic self-map of \(D\), \(z_0\in D\), \(z_n:= \phi_n(z_0)\) and \(s_n:= \rho(z_n, z_{n+1})\), where \(\rho\) is the hyperbolic metric; by Schwarz's lemma, \(s_n\) is a decreasing sequence. We say that \(\phi\) is nonzero-step if \(\lim_{n\to\infty}\,s_n> 0\) and zero-step if \(\lim_{n\to\infty} s_n= 0\); this classification is independent of the choice of \(z_0\) in view of work of \textit{Ch. Pommerenke} [J. Lond. Math. Soc., II. Ser. 19, 439--447 (1979; Zbl 0398.30014)]. The author then shows that if \(|p|= 1\) and \(\phi\) is hyperbolic or nonzero-step parabolic, then pointwise almost everywhere convergence always holds. The case that \(|p|= 1\) and \(\phi\) is nonzero-step parabolic remains open.