On the derivatives of the Lempert functions

Abstract

We show that if the Kobayashi--Royden metric of a complex manifold is continuous and positive at a given point and any non-zero tangent vector, then the "derivatives" of the higher order Lempert functions exist and equal the respective Kobayashi metrics at the point. It is a generalization of a result by M. Kobayashi for taut manifolds.

to appear in the Ann. Mat. Pura Appl.