Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 April 2009
Let S(p) be the family of holomorphic functions f defined on the unit disk D, normalized by f(0) = f1(0) – 1 = 0 and univalent in every hyperbolic disk of radius p. Let C(p) be the subfamily consisting of those functions which are convex univalent in every hyperbolic disk of radius p. For p = ∞ these become the classical families S and C of normalized univalent and convex functions, respectively. These families are linearly invariant in the sense of Pommerenke; a natural problem is to calculate the order of these linearly invariant families. More precisely, we give a geometrie proof that C(p) is the universal linearly invariant family of all normalized locally schlicht functions of order at most coth(2p). This gives a purely geometric interpretation for the order of a linearly invariant family. In a related matter, we characterize those locally schlicht functions which map each hyperbolically k-convex subset of D onto a euclidean convex set. Finally, we give upper and lower bounds on the order of the linearly invariant family S(p) and prove that this class is not equal to the universal linearly invariant family of any order.