On L p Extremal Polynomials

A Turán-type inequality for L _p extremal polynomials is given and mean convergence of Lagrange interpolation based on the zeros of L _p extremal polynomials is investigated. November 8, 1994. Date revised: January 23, 1997.     

A Problem of Totik on Fast Decreasing Polynomials

We solve a problem posed by V. Totik on the existence of fast-decreasing polynomials p _n of degree with p _n (0)=1 and for . For the largest c for which such polynomials exist was known. We give the solution for β > 2 . April 18, 1996.     

Plancherel—Rotach Asymptotics for the Charlier Polynomials

We derive an asymptotic approximation of Plancherel—Rotach type for the Charlier polynomials on the positive real line. July 26, 1993. Date revised: December 2, 1996.     

Extremal Polynomials with Preassigned Zeros and Rational Approximants

Let p _n be the n th orthonormal polynomial with respect to a positive finite measure μ supported by Δ=[-1,1] . It is well known that, uniformly on compact subsets of C/Δ , and, for a large class of measures μ , where g _Ω (z) is Green's function of with pole at infinity. It is also well known that these limit relations give convergence of the diagonal Padé approximants of the Markov function to f on Ω with a certain geometric speed measured by g _Ω (z) . We prove corresponding results when we restrict the freedom of p _n by preassigning some of the zeros. This means that the Padé approximants are replaced by Padé-type approximants where some of the poles are preassigned. We also replace Δ by general compact subsets of C. July 12, 1995. Date revised: October 1, 1996.     

Three-Convex Approximation by Free Knot Splines in C [0, 1]

A Jackson-type estimate is obtained for the approximation of 3 -convex functions by 3 -convex splines with free knots. The order of approximation is the same as for the Jackson-type estimate for unconstrained approximation by splines with free knots. Shape-preserving free knot spline approximation of k -convex functions, k > 3 , is also considered. January 15, 1996. Date revised: December 9, 1996.     

Gaussian Versus Optimal Integration of Analytic Functions

We consider error estimates for optimal and Gaussian quadrature formulas if the integrand is analytic and bounded in a certain complex region. First, a simple technique for the derivation of lower bounds for the optimal error constants is presented. This method is applied to Szeg?-type weight functions and ellipses as regions of analyticity. In this situation, the error constants for the Gaussian formulas are close to the obtained lower bounds, which proves the quality of the Gaussian formulas and also of the lower bounds. In the sequel, different regions of analyticity are investigated. It turns out that almost exclusively for ellipses, the Gaussian formulas are near-optimal. For classes of simply connected regions of analyticity, which are additionally symmetric to the real axis, the asymptotic of the worst ratio between the error constants of the Gaussian formulas and the optimal error constants is calculated. As a by-product, we prove explicit lower bounds for the Christoffel-function for the constant weight function and arguments outside the interval of integration. September 7, 1995. Date revised: October 25, 1996.     

Polynomial Approximation of Conformal Maps

Let G be a finite domain, bounded by a Jordan curve Γ , and let f ₀ be a conformal map of G onto the unit disk. We are interested in the best rate of uniform convergence of polynomial approximation to f ₀ , in the case that Γ is piecewise-analytic without cusps. In particular, we consider the problem of approximating f ₀ by the Bieberbach polynomials π _n and derive results better than those in [5] and [6] for the case that the corners of Γ have interior angles of the form π/N . In the proof, the Lehman formulas for the asymptotic expansion of mapping functions near analytic corners are used. We study the question when these expansions contain logarithmic terms. December 6, 1995. Date revised: August 5, 1996.     

On the Asymptotically Optimal Rate of Approximation of Multiplier Operators from L p into L q

The asymptotic behavior of the n -widths of multiplier operators from L _p [0,1] into L _q [0,1] is studied. General upper and lower bounds for the n -widths in terms of the multipliers are established. Moreover, it is shown that these upper and lower bounds coincide for some important concrete examples. August 3, 1994. Date revised: November 15, 1996.     

On Measures Induced by Extremal Signatures in Best Real Polynomial Approximation

We consider the limit distribution of measures μ _n , that appear in extremal signatures in the best polynomial approximation of a real-valued function . Relations between structural properties of the function f and weak-star limit points of (μ _n ) _n are proved. April 4, 1996. Date revised: October 25, 1996.     

Hyperbolic Wavelet Approximation

We study the multivariate approximation by certain partial sums (hyperbolic wavelet sums) of wavelet bases formed by tensor products of univariate wavelets. We characterize spaces of functions which have a prescribed approximation error by hyperbolic wavelet sums in terms of a K -functional and interpolation spaces. The results parallel those for hyperbolic trigonometric cross approximation of periodic functions [DPT]. October 16, 1995. Date revised: August 28, 1996.     

TURBS—Topologically Unrestricted Rational B-Splines

We present a new approach to the construction of piecewise polynomial or rational C ^k -spline surfaces of arbitrary topological structure. The basic idea is to use exclusively parametric smoothness conditions, and to solve the well-known problems at extraordinary points by admitting singular parametrizations. The smoothness of the spline surfaces is guaranteed by specifying a regular smooth reparametrization explicitly. The resulting space of topologically unrestricted rational B-splines (TURBS) is linear and possesses a natural refinement property. Compared with all known methods the construction principle of TURBS is of striking simplicity and the required polynomial bi-degree is essentially decreased from O(k ² ) to d=2k+2 . January 5, 1996. Date revised: September 5, 1996.     

Multipoint Padé-Type Approximants. Exact Rate of Convergence

We study the rate with which sequences of interpolating rational functions, whose poles are partially fixed, approximate Markov-type analytic functions. Applications to interpolating quadratures are given. January 25, 1996. Date revised: December 26, 1996.     

Hardy Approximation to L p Functions on Subsets of the Circle with 1< =p< = infinity

We consider approximation of L ^p functions by Hardy functions on subsets of the circle for . After some preliminaries on the possibility of such an approximation which are connected to recovery problems of the Carleman type, we prove existence and uniqueness of the solution to a generalized extremal problem involving norm constraints on the complementary subset. December 6, 1995. Date revised: August 26, 1996.     

Elliptic Integral Inequalities, with Applications

The authors study monotoneity and convexity of certain combinations of elliptic integrals and obtain sharp inequalities for them. Applications are provided. November 23, 1994. Date revised: February 5, 1997.     

Critical Points and Error Rank in Best H 2 Matrix Rational Approximation of Fixed McMillan Degree

This paper deals with best rational approximation of prescribed McMillan degree to matrix-valued functions in the real Hardy space of the complement of the unit disk endowed with the Frobenius L ₂ -norm. We describe the topological structure of the set of approximants in terms of inner-unstable factorizations. This allows us to establish a two-sided tangential interpolation equation for the critical points of the criterion, and to prove that the rank of the error F-H is at most k-n when F is rational of degree k , and H is critical of degree n . In the particular case where k=n , it follows that H=F is the unique critical point, and this entails a local uniqueness result when approximating near-rational functions. January 23, 1996. Date revised: September 16, 1996.