Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 February 2012
Let
be Hermite's function of order λ and let h = h(λ) be the largest real zero of Hλ(t). Set
In this paper we establish the inequality
where
Equality holds for S = ½. The result is also fairly accurate as S→0 and S→1. The proof is analytical except in the ranges −1·1 ≦ h ≦ −0·1 and where the argument is concluded by means of a computer.
The following deduction is made elsewhere [2, Theorem A]. If u(x) is subharmonic in Rm(m ≧ 2) and the set E where u(x) > 0 has at least k components, where k ≧ 2, then the order ρ of u(x) is at least ϕ(1/k). In particular, if ρ < 1, E is connected. This result fails for ρ = 1.