Abstract

We study the normality of families of meromorphic functions concerning shared values. We consider whether a family of meromorphic functions is normal in 𝐷, if, for every pair of functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 in , 𝑓𝑎𝑓𝑛 and 𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑛 share the value 𝑏, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are two finite complex numbers such that 𝑎0, 𝑛 is a positive integer. Some examples show that the conditions in our results are best possible.

1. Introduction and Main Results

Let 𝑓(𝑧) and 𝑔(𝑧) be two nonconstant meromorphic functions in a domain 𝐷, and let 𝑎 be a finite complex value. We say that 𝑓 and 𝑔 share 𝑎 CM (or IM) in 𝐷 provided that 𝑓𝑎 and 𝑔𝑎 have the same zeros counting (or ignoring) multiplicity in 𝐷. When 𝑎=, the zeros of 𝑓𝑎 mean the poles of 𝑓 (see [1]). It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the standard notations and the basic results of Nevanlinna's value-distribution theory ([24] or [1]).

Bloch's principle [5] states that every condition which reduces a meromorphic function in the plane to be a constant forces a family of meromorphic functions in a domain 𝐷 to be normal. Although the principle is false in general (see [6]), many authors proved normality criterion for families of meromorphic functions corresponding to Liouville-Picard type theorem (see [7] or [4]).

It is also more interesting to find normality criteria from the point of view of shared values. In this area, Schwick [8] first proved an interesting result that a family of meromorphic functions in a domain is normal if every function shares three distinct finite complex numbers with its first derivative. And later, more results about normality criteria concerning shared values can be found, for instance, in [911] and so on. In recent years, this subject has attracted the attention of many researchers worldwide.

We now first introduce a normality criterion related to a Hayman normal conjecture [12].

Theorem 1.1. Let be a family of holomorphic (meromorphic) functions defined in a domain 𝐷, 𝑛,𝑎0,𝑏. If 𝑓(𝑧)+𝑎𝑓𝑛(𝑧)𝑏0 for each function 𝑓(𝑧) and 𝑛2(𝑛3), then is normal in 𝐷.

The results for the holomorphic case are due to Drasin [7] for 𝑛3, Pang [13] for 𝑛=3, Chen and Fang [14] for 𝑛=2, Ye [15] for 𝑛=2, and Chen and Gu [16] for the generalized result with 𝑎 and 𝑏 replaced by meromorphic functions. The results for the meromorphic case are due to Li [17], Li [18] and Langley [19] for 𝑛5, Pang [13] for 𝑛=4, Chen and Fang [14] for 𝑛=3, and Zalcman [20] for 𝑛=3, obtained independently.

When 𝑛=2 and is meromorphic, Theorem 1.1 is not valid in general. Fang and Yuan [21] gave an example to this, and moreover a result added other conditions below.

Example 1.2. The family of meromorphic functions ={𝑓𝑗(𝑧)=𝑗𝑧/(𝑗𝑧1)2𝑗=1,2,,} is not normal in 𝐷={𝑧|𝑧|<1}. This is deduced by 𝑓#𝑗(0)=𝑗, as 𝑗 and Marty's criterion [2], although, for any 𝑓𝑗(𝑧),𝑓𝑗+𝑓2𝑗=𝑗(𝑗𝑧1)40.

Here 𝑓#(𝜉) denotes the spherical derivative 𝑓#||𝑓(𝜉)=||(𝜉)||||1+𝑓(𝜉)2.(1.1)

Theorem 1.3. Let be a family of meromorphic functions in a domain 𝐷, and 𝑎0,𝑏. If 𝑓(𝑧)+𝑎(𝑓(𝑧))2𝑏0 and the poles of 𝑓(𝑧) are of multiplicity ≥3 for each 𝑓(𝑧), then is normal in 𝐷.

In 2008, by the ideas of shared values, Zhang [11] proved the following.

Theorem 1.4. Let be a family of meromorphic (holomorphic) functions in 𝐷, 𝑛 a positive integer, and 𝑎, 𝑏 two finite complex numbers such that 𝑎0. If 𝑛4(𝑛2) and, for every pair of functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 in , 𝑓𝑎𝑓𝑛 and 𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑛 share the value 𝑏, then is normal in 𝐷.

Example 1.5 (see [11]). The family of meromorphic functions ={𝑓𝑗(𝑧)=1/(𝑗(𝑧(1/𝑗)))𝑗=1,2,,} is not normal in 𝐷={𝑧|𝑧|<1}. Obviously 𝑓𝑗𝑓3𝑗=𝑧/(𝑗(𝑧(1/𝑗))3). So for each pair 𝑚,𝑗,𝑓𝑗𝑓3𝑗 and 𝑓𝑚𝑓3𝑚 share the value 0 in 𝐷, but is not normal at the point 𝑧=0, since 𝑓#𝑗(0)=2(𝑗)3/(1+𝑗), as 𝑗.

Remark 1.6. Example 1.5 shows that Theorem 1.4 is not valid when 𝑛=3, and the condition 𝑛=4 is best possible for meromorphic case.

In this paper, we will consider the similar relations and prove the following results.

Theorem 1.7. Let be a family of meromorphic functions in 𝐷, 𝑛 a positive integer, and 𝑎, 𝑏 two finite complex numbers such that 𝑎0. If 𝑛2 and, for every pair of functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 in , 𝑓𝑎𝑓𝑛 and 𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑛 share the value 𝑏, then is normal in 𝐷.

Example 1.8. The family of holomorphic functions ={𝑓𝑗(𝑧)=𝑗(𝑧(1/𝑗))𝑗=1,2,,} is not normal in 𝐷={𝑧|𝑧|<1}. This is deduced by 𝑓#𝑗(0)=𝑗𝑗/(𝑗+1), as 𝑗 and Marty's criterion [2], although, for any 𝑓𝑗(𝑧),𝑓𝑗+𝑓𝑗1=𝑗𝑗𝑧/(𝑗𝑧1).

Remark 1.9. Example 1.8 shows that the condition that added 𝑛2 in Theorem 1.7 is best possible. In Theorem 1.7 taking 𝑏=0 we get Corollary 1.10 obtained by Zhang [22].

Corollary 1.10. Let be a family of meromorphic functions in 𝐷, 𝑛2, and let 𝑎 be a nonzero finite complex number. If, for every pair of functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 in , 𝑓𝑛𝑓 and 𝑔𝑛𝑔 share the value 𝑎, then is normal in 𝐷.

A natural problem is what conditions are added such that Theorem 1.7 holds when 𝑛=1. Next we give an answer.

Theorem 1.11. Let be a family of meromorphic functions in 𝐷, and let 𝑎 and 𝑏 be two finite complex numbers such that 𝑎0. Suppose that all of zeros are multiple for each 𝑓(𝑧). If, for every pair of functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 in , 𝑓𝑎𝑓1 and 𝑔𝑎𝑔1 share the value 𝑏, then is normal in 𝐷.

Remark 1.12. Example 1.8 shows that the condition that all of zeros are multiple for each 𝑓(𝑧) added in Theorem 1.7 is best possible. In Theorem 1.11 taking 𝑏=0 we get Corollary 1.13.

Corollary 1.13. Let be a family of meromorphic functions in 𝐷, and let 𝑎 be a nonzero finite complex number. Suppose that all of zeros are multiple for each 𝑓(𝑧). If, for every pair of functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 in , 𝑓𝑓 and 𝑔𝑔 share the value 𝑎, then is normal in 𝐷.

From the proof of Theorem 1.7 we know that the following corollary holds.

Corollary 1.14. Let be a family of meromorphic functions in 𝐷, 𝑛 be a positive integer and 𝑎, 𝑏 be two finite complex numbers such that 𝑎0. If for each function 𝑓 in , 𝑓𝑎𝑓𝑛𝑏, then is normal in 𝐷.

2. Preliminary Lemmas

In order to prove our result, we need the following lemmas. The first one extends a famous result by Zalcman [23] concerning normal families.

Lemma 2.1 (see [24]). Let be a family of meromorphic functions on the unit disc satisfying all zeros of functions in that have multiplicity 𝑝 and all poles of functions in that have multiplicity 𝑞. Let 𝛼 be a real number satisfying 𝑞<𝛼<𝑝. Then is not normal at 0 if and only if there exist
(a)anumber0<𝑟<1; (b)points𝑧𝑛with|𝑧𝑛|<𝑟; (c)functions𝑓𝑛; (d)positivenumbers𝜌𝑛0such that 𝑔𝑛(𝜁)=𝜌𝛼𝑓𝑛(𝑧𝑛+𝜌𝑛𝜁) converges spherically uniformly on each compact subset of to a nonconstant meromorphic function 𝑔(𝜁), whose all zeros have multiplicity 𝑝 and all poles have multiplicity 𝑞 and order is at most 2.

Remark 2.2. If is a family of holomorphic functions on the unit disc in Lemma 2.1, then 𝑔(𝜁) is a nonconstant entire function whose order is at most 1.

The order of 𝑔 is defined by using Nevanlinna's characteristic function 𝑇(𝑟,𝑔): 𝜌(𝑔)=lim𝑟suplog𝑇(𝑟,𝑔).log𝑟(2.1)

Lemma 2.3 (see [25] or [26]). Let 𝑓(𝑧) be a meromorphic function and 𝑐{0}. If 𝑓(𝑧) has neither simple zero nor simple pole, and 𝑓(𝑧)𝑐, then 𝑓(𝑧) is constant.

Lemma 2.4 (see [27]). Let 𝑓(𝑧) be a transcendental meromorphic function of finite order in and have no simple zero, then 𝑓(𝑧) assumes every nonzero finite value infinitely often.

3. Proof of the Results

Proof of Theorem 1.7. Suppose that is not normal in 𝐷. Then there exists at least one point 𝑧0 such that is not normal at the point 𝑧0. Without loss of generality we assume that 𝑧0=0. By Lemma 2.1, there exist points 𝑧𝑗0, positive numbers 𝜌𝑗0, and functions 𝑓𝑗 such that 𝑔𝑗(𝜉)=𝜌𝑗1/(𝑛+1)𝑓𝑗𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑔(𝜉)(3.1) locally uniformly with respect to the spherical metric, where 𝑔 is a nonconstant meromorphic function in . Moreover, the order of 𝑔 is 2.
From (3.1) we know 𝑔𝑗(𝜉)=𝜌𝑗𝑛/(𝑛+1)𝑓𝑗𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑔𝜌(𝜉),𝑗𝑛/(𝑛+1)𝑓𝑗𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑎𝑓𝑗𝑛𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑏=𝑔𝑗(𝜉)𝑎𝑔𝑗𝑛(𝜉)𝜌𝑗𝑛/(𝑛+1)𝑏𝑔(𝜉)𝑎𝑔𝑛(𝜉)(3.2) in 𝐒 locally uniformly with respect to the spherical metric, where 𝐒 is the set of all poles of 𝑔(𝜉).
If 𝑔𝑔𝑛𝑎0, then 1/(𝑛+1)𝑔𝑛+1𝑎𝜉+𝑐, where 𝑐 is a constant. This contradicts with 𝑔 being a meromorphic function. So 𝑔𝑔𝑛𝑎0.
If 𝑔𝑔𝑛𝑎0, by Lemma 2.3, then 𝑔 is also a constant which is a contradiction with 𝑔 being a nonconstant. Hence, 𝑔𝑔𝑛𝑎 is a nonconstant meromorphic function and has at least one zero.
Next we prove that 𝑔𝑔𝑛𝑎 has just a unique zero. On the contrary, let 𝜉0 and 𝜉0 be two distinct zeros of 𝑔𝑔𝑛𝑎, and choose 𝛿(>0) small enough such that 𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿)𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿)=𝜙, where 𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿)={𝜉|𝜉𝜉0|<𝛿} and 𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿)={𝜉|𝜉𝜉0|<𝛿}. From (3.2), by 𝐻𝑢𝑟𝑤𝑖𝑡𝑧𝑠 theorem, there exist points 𝜉𝑗𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿), 𝜉𝑗𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿) such that for sufficiently large 𝑗𝑓𝑗𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗𝑎𝑓𝑗𝑛𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗𝑓𝑏=0,𝑗𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗𝑎𝑓𝑗𝑛𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗𝑏=0.(3.3)
By the hypothesis that, for each pair of functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 in , 𝑓𝑎𝑓𝑛 and 𝑔𝑎𝑔𝑛 share 𝑏 in 𝐷, we know that for any positive integer𝑚𝑓𝑚𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗𝑎𝑓𝑚𝑛𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗𝑓𝑏=0,𝑚𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗𝑎𝑓𝑚𝑛𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗𝑏=0.(3.4)
Fix 𝑚, take 𝑗, and note 𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗0, 𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗0, then 𝑓𝑚(0)𝑎𝑓𝑚𝑛(0)𝑏=0. Since the zeros of 𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑓𝑚𝑛𝑏 have no accumulation point, so 𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗=0,𝑧𝑗+𝜌𝑗𝜉𝑗=0.(3.5) Hence, 𝜉𝑗=𝑧𝑗/𝜌𝑗,𝜉𝑗=𝑧𝑗/𝜌𝑗. This contradicts with 𝜉𝑗𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿),𝜉𝑗𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿), and 𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿)𝐷(𝜉0,𝛿)=𝜙. So 𝑔𝑔𝑛𝑎 has just a unique zero, which can be denoted by 𝜉0. By Lemma 2.4, 𝑔 is not any transcendental function.
If 𝑔 is a nonconstant polynomial, then 𝑔𝑔𝑛𝑎=𝐴(𝜉𝜉0)𝑙, where A is a nonzero constant, 𝑙 is a positive integer, because 𝑙𝑛3. Set 𝜙=(1/(𝑛+1))𝑔𝑛+1, then 𝜙=𝐴(𝜉𝜉0)𝑙+𝑎 and 𝜙=𝐴𝑙(𝜉𝜉0)𝑙1. Note that the zeros of 𝜙 are of multiplicity 4. But 𝜙 has only one zero 𝜉0, so 𝜙 has only the same zero 𝜉0 too. Hence, 𝜙(𝜉0)=0 which contradicts with 𝜙(𝜉0)=𝑎0. Therefore, 𝑔 and 𝜙 are rational functions which are not polynomials, and 𝜙𝑎 has just a unique zero 𝜉0.
Next we prove that there exists no rational function such as 𝜙. Noting that 𝜙=(1/(𝑛+1))𝑔𝑛+1, we can set 𝜙(𝜉)=𝐴𝜉𝜉1𝑚1𝜉𝜉2𝑚2𝜉𝜉𝑠𝑚𝑠𝜉𝜂1𝑛1𝜉𝜂2𝑛2𝜉𝜂𝑡𝑛𝑡,(3.6) where 𝐴 is a nonzero constant, 𝑠1,𝑡1,𝑚𝑖𝑛+13(𝑖=1,2,,𝑠),𝑛𝑗𝑛+13(𝑗=1,2,,𝑡). For stating briefly, denote 𝑚=𝑚1+𝑚2++𝑚𝑠3𝑠,𝑁=𝑛1+𝑛2++𝑛𝑡3𝑡.(3.7) From (3.6), 𝜙𝐴(𝜉)=𝜉𝜉1𝑚11𝜉𝜉2𝑚21𝜉𝜉𝑠𝑚𝑠1(𝜉)𝜉𝜂1𝑛1+1𝜉𝜂2𝑛2+1𝜉𝜂𝑡𝑛𝑡+1=𝑝1(𝜉)𝑞1(𝜉),(3.8) where (𝜉)=(𝑚𝑁𝑡)𝜉𝑠+𝑡1+𝑎𝑠+𝑡2𝜉𝑠+𝑡2++𝑎0,𝑝1(𝜉)=𝐴𝜉𝜉1𝑚11𝜉𝜉2𝑚21𝜉𝜉𝑠𝑚𝑠1𝑞(𝜉),1(𝜉)=𝜉𝜂1𝑛1+1𝜉𝜂2𝑛2+1𝜉𝜂𝑡𝑛𝑡+1(3.9) are polynomials. Since 𝜙(𝜉)+𝑎 has only a unique zero 𝜉0, set 𝜙𝐵(𝜉)+𝑎=𝜉𝜉0𝑙𝜉𝜂1𝑛1+1𝜉𝜂2𝑛2+1𝜉𝜂𝑡𝑛𝑡+1,(3.10) where 𝐵 is a nonzero constant, so 𝜙(𝜉)=𝜉𝜉0𝑙1𝑝2(𝜉)𝜉𝜂1𝑛1+2𝜉𝜂2𝑛2+2𝜉𝜂𝑡𝑛𝑡+2,(3.11) where 𝑝2(𝜉)=𝐵(𝑙𝑁2𝑡)𝜉𝑡+𝑏𝑡1𝜉𝑡1++𝑏0 is a polynomial. From (3.8) we also have 𝜙(𝜉)=𝜉𝜉1𝑚12𝜉𝜉2𝑚22𝜉𝜉𝑠𝑚𝑠2𝑝3(𝜉)𝜉𝜂1𝑛1+2𝜉𝜂2𝑛2+2𝜉𝜂𝑡𝑛𝑡+2,(3.12) where 𝑝3(𝜉) is also a polynomial.
Let deg(𝑝) denote the degree of a polynomial 𝑝(𝜉).
From (3.8) and (3.9), 𝑝deg()𝑠+𝑡1,deg1𝑞𝑚+𝑡1,deg1=𝑁+𝑡.(3.13) Similarly from (3.11), (3.12) and noting (3.13), 𝑝deg2𝑡,(3.14)𝑝deg3𝑝deg1+𝑡1(𝑚2𝑠)2𝑡+2𝑠2.(3.15)
Note that 𝑚𝑖3(𝑖=1,2,,𝑠), it follows from (3.8) and (3.10) that 𝜙(𝜉𝑖)=0(𝑖=1,2,,𝑠) and 𝜙(𝜉0)=𝑎0. Thus, 𝜉0𝜉𝑖(𝑖=1,2,,𝑠), and then (𝜉𝜉0)𝑙1 is a factor of 𝑝3(𝜉). Hence, we get that 𝑙1deg(𝑝3). Combining (3.11) and (3.12) we also have 𝑚2𝑠=deg(𝑝2)+𝑙1deg(𝑝3)deg(𝑝2). By (3.14) we obtain 𝑝𝑚2𝑠deg2𝑡.(3.16)
Since 𝑚3𝑠, we know by (3.16) that 𝑠𝑡.(3.17)
If 𝑙𝑁+𝑡, by (3.15), then 𝑝4𝑡1𝑁+𝑡1𝑙1deg32𝑡+2𝑠2.(3.18) Noting (3.17), we obtain 10; a contradiction.
If 𝑙<𝑁+𝑡, from (3.8) and (3.10), then deg(𝑝1)=deg(𝑞1). Noting that deg()𝑠+𝑡1, deg(𝑝1)𝑚+𝑡1, and deg(𝑞1)=𝑁+𝑡, hence 𝑚𝑁+13𝑡+1. By (3.16), 2𝑡+12𝑠. From (3.17), we obtain 10; a contradiction.
The proof of Theorem 1.7 is complete.

Proof of Theorem 1.11. The proof of this theorem is the same as the proof of Theorem 1.7, some different places are stated as follows.
The zeros of 𝑔 are multiple; 𝑙2𝑛+1=3.(3.19)
The zeros of 𝜙 are of multiplicity ≥4: 𝑚𝑖2(𝑛+1)=4(𝑖=1,2,,𝑠),𝑛𝑗𝑛+1=2(𝑗=1,2,,𝑡);(3.20)𝑚=𝑚1+𝑚2++𝑚𝑠4𝑠,𝑁=𝑛1+𝑛2++𝑛𝑡2𝑡.((3.7))
Noting 𝑚4𝑠, by (3.16) we have 2𝑠𝑡.((3.17))
If 𝑙𝑁+𝑡, by (3.15), then 𝑝3𝑡1𝑁+𝑡1𝑙1deg32𝑡+2𝑠2.(3.21) Noting (3.17), we obtain 10; a contradiction.
If 𝑙<𝑁+𝑡, from (3.8) and (3.10), then deg(𝑝1)=deg(𝑞1). Noting that deg()𝑠+𝑡1, deg(𝑝1)𝑚+𝑡1, and deg(𝑞1)=𝑁+𝑡, hence 𝑚𝑁+12𝑡+1. By (3.16), 2𝑡+12𝑠+𝑡. From ((3.17)), we obtain 10; a contradiction.
The proof of Theorem 1.11 is complete.

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to express their hearty thanks to Professor Qingcai Zhang for supplying them his helpful reprint. They wish to thank the managing editor and referees for their very helpful comments and useful suggestions. This work was completed of the support with the NSF of China (10771220) and Doctorial Point Fund of National Education Ministry of China (200810780002).