Classification Theorems for General Orthogonal Polynomials on the Unit Circle

The set of all probability measures σ on the unit circle splits into three disjoint subsets depending on properties of the derived set of {|_n|²dσ}_n0, denoted by Lim(σ). Here {_n}_n0 are orthogonal polynomials in L²(dσ). The first subset is the set of Rakhmanov measures, i.e., of σ with {m}=Lim(σ), m being the normalized (m( )=1) Lebesgue measure on . The second subset Mar( ) consists of Markoff measures, i.e., of σ with mLim(σ), and is in fact the subject of study for the present paper. A measure σ, belongs to Mar( ) iff there are >0 and l>0 such that sup{|a_n+j|:0jl}>, n=0,1,2,…,{a_n} is the Geronimus parameters (=reflectioncoefficients) of σ. We use this equivalence to describe the asymptotic behavior of the zeros of the corresponding orthogonal polynomials (see Theorem G). The third subset consists of σ with {m}Lim(σ). We show that σ is ratio asymptotic iff either σ is a Rakhmanov measure or σ satisfies the López condition (which implies σMar( )). Measures σ satisfying Lim(σ)={ν} (i.e., weakly asymptotic measures) are also classified. Either ν is the sum of equal point masses placed at the roots of zⁿ=λ, λ , n=1,2,…, or ν is the equilibrium measure (with respect to the logarithmic kernel) for the inverse image under an m-preserving endomorphism z→zⁿ, n=1,2,…, of a closed arc J (including J= ) with removed open concentric arc J₀ (including J₀=). Next, weakly asymptotic measures are completely described in terms of their Geronimus parameters. Finally, we obtain explicit formulae for the parameters of the equilibrium measures ν and show that these measures satisfy {ν}=Lim(ν).