An update on orthogonal polynomials and weighted approximation on the real line

We briefly review the state of orthogonal polynomials on (–, ), concentrating on analytic aspects, such as asymptotics and bounds on orthogonal polynomials, their zeros and their recurrence coefficients. We emphasize results rather than proofs. We also discuss applications to mean convergence of orthogonal expansions, Lagrange interpolation, Jackson-Bernstein theorems and the weighted incomplete polynomial approximation problem.     

On the convergence of type I Hermite–Padé approximants

Padé approximation has two natural extensions to vector rational approximation through the so-called type I and type II Hermite–Padé approximants. The convergence properties of type II Hermite–Padé approximants have been studied. For such approximants Markov and Stieltjes type theorems are available. To the present, such results have not been obtained for type I approximants. In this paper, we provide Markov and Stieltjes type theorems on the convergence of type I Hermite–Padé approximants for Nikishin systems of functions.     

Generalized Hermite-Padé approximation for Nikishin systems of three functions

Nikishin systems of three functions are considered. For such systems, the rate of convergence of simultaneous interpolating rational approximations with partially prescribed poles is studied. The solution is described in terms of the solution of a vector equilibrium problem in the presence of a vector external field.     

Representations for the extreme zeros of orthogonal polynomials

We establish some representations for the smallest and largest zeros of orthogonal polynomials in terms of the parameters in the three-terms recurrence relation. As a corollary we obtain representations for the endpoints of the true interval of orthogonality. Implications of these results for the decay parameter of a birth-death process (with killing) are displayed.     

Restricted colored permutations and Chebyshev polynomials

Several authors have examined connections between restricted permutations and Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind. In this paper we prove analogues of these results for colored permutations. First we define a distinguished set of length two and length three patterns, which contains only 312 when just one color is used. Then we give a recursive procedure for computing the generating function for the colored permutations which avoid this distinguished set and any set of additional patterns, which we use to find a new set of signed permutations counted by the Catalan numbers and a new set of signed permutations counted by the large Schröder numbers. We go on to use this result to compute the generating functions for colored permutations which avoid our distinguished set and any layered permutation with three or fewer layers. We express these generating functions in terms of Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind and we show that they are special cases of generating functions for involutions which avoid 3412 and a layered permutation.     

Matrix measures on the unit circle, moment spaces, orthogonal polynomials and the Geronimus relations

We study the moment space corresponding to matrix measures on the unit circle. Moment points are characterized by non-negative definiteness of block Toeplitz matrices. This characterization is used to derive an explicit representation of orthogonal polynomials with respect to matrix measures on the unit circle and to present a geometric definition of canonical moments. It is demonstrated that these geometrically defined quantities coincide with the Verblunsky coefficients, which appear in the Szegö recursions for the matrix orthogonal polynomials. Finally, we provide an alternative proof of the Geronimus relations which is based on a simple relation between canonical moments of matrix measures on the interval [−1, 1] and the Verblunsky coefficients corresponding to matrix measures on the unit circle.     

The Riemann-Hilbert approach to strong asymptotics for orthogonal polynomials on [−1,1]

We consider polynomials that are orthogonal on [−1,1] with respect to a modified Jacobi weight (1−x)^α(1+x)^βh(x), with α,β>−1 and h real analytic and strictly positive on [−1,1]. We obtain full asymptotic expansions for the monic and orthonormal polynomials outside the interval [−1,1], for the recurrence coefficients and for the leading coefficients of the orthonormal polynomials. We also deduce asymptotic behavior for the Hankel determinants and for the monic orthogonal polynomials on the interval [−1,1]. For the asymptotic analysis we use the steepest descent technique for Riemann-Hilbert problems developed by Deift and Zhou, and applied to orthogonal polynomials on the real line by Deift, Kriecherbauer, McLaughlin, Venakides, and Zhou. In the steepest descent method we will use the Szeg? function associated with the weight and for the local analysis around the endpoints ±1 we use Bessel functions of appropriate order, whereas Deift et al. use Airy functions.     

On rational approximation of algebraic functions

We construct a new scheme of approximation of any multivalued algebraic function f(z) by a sequence {r_n(z)}_n∈N of rational functions. The latter sequence is generated by a recurrence relation which is completely determined by the algebraic equation satisfied by f(z). Compared to the usual Padé approximation our scheme has a number of advantages, such as simple computational procedures that allow us to prove natural analogs of the Padé Conjecture and Nuttall's Conjecture for the sequence {r_n(z)}_n∈N in the complement CP¹?D_f, where D_f is the union of a finite number of segments of real algebraic curves and finitely many isolated points. In particular, our construction makes it possible to control the behavior of spurious poles and to describe the asymptotic ratio distribution of the family {r_n(z)}_n∈N. As an application we settle the so-called 3-conjecture of Egecioglu et al. dealing with a 4-term recursion related to a polynomial Riemann Hypothesis.     

Relative asymptotic of multiple orthogonal polynomials for Nikishin systems

We prove the relative asymptotic behavior for the ratio of two sequences of multiple orthogonal polynomials with respect to the Nikishin systems of measures. The first Nikishin system is such that for each k, σ_k has a constant sign on its compact support consisting of an interval , on which almost everywhere, and a discrete set without accumulation points in . If denotes the smallest interval containing , we assume that Δ_k∩Δ_k+1=0/, k=1,…,m−1. The second Nikishin system is a perturbation of the first by means of rational functions r_k, k=1,…,m, whose zeros and poles lie in .     

Parameter-based Fisher's information of orthogonal polynomials

The Fisher information of the classical orthogonal polynomials with respect to a parameter is introduced, its interest justified and its explicit expression for the Jacobi, Laguerre, Gegenbauer and Grosjean polynomials found.     

Erratum: Christoffel functions,orthogonal polynomials,and Nevai's conjecture for Freud weights

Communicated by Edward B. Saff     

The asymptotic accuracy of rational best approximations to ez on a disk

The method described by D. Braess (J. Approx. Theory40 (1984), 375–379) is applied to study approximation of e^z on a disk rather than an interval. Let E_mn be the distance in the supremum norm on ¦z¦ ? ? from e^z to the set of rational functions of type (m, n). The analog of Braess' result turns out to be $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{mn}}\text{~}\text{m! n! ?}{}^{\mathrm{m\; +\; n\; +1}}\text{(m + n)! (m + n +1)!}$ as m + n → ∞ This formula was obtained originally for a special case by E. Saff (J. Approx. Theory9 (1973), 97–101).     

Look-ahead Levinson and Schur algorithms for non-Hermitian Toeplitz systems

Summary. We present generalizations of the nonsymmetric Levinson and Schur algorithms for non-Hermitian Toeplitz matrices with some singular or ill-conditioned leading principal submatrices. The underlying recurrences allow us to go from any pair of successive well-conditioned leading principal submatrices to any such pair of larger order. If the look-ahead step size between these pairs is bounded, our generalized Levinson and Schur recurrences require $ operations, and the Schur recurrences can be combined with recursive doubling so that an $ algorithm results. The overhead (in operations and storage) of look-ahead steps is very small. There are various options for applying these algorithms to solving linear systems with Toeplitz matrix. Received July 26, 1993     

On zeros of polynomials orthogonal over a convex domain

We establish a discrepancy theorem for signed measures, with a given positive part, which are supported on an arbitrary convex curve. As a main application, we obtain a result concerning the distribution of zeros of polynomials orthogonal on a convex domain.     

Multivariate Frobenius–Padé approximants: Properties and algorithms

The aim of this paper is to construct rational approximants for multivariate functions given by their expansion in an orthogonal polynomial system. This will be done by generalizing the concept of multivariate Padé approximation. After defining the multivariate Frobenius–Padé approximants, we will be interested in the two following problems: the first one is to develop recursive algorithms for the computation of the value of a sequence of approximants at a given point. The second one is to compute the coefficients of the numerator and denominator of the approximants by solving a linear system. For some particular cases we will obtain a displacement rank structure for the matrix of the system we have to solve. The case of a Tchebyshev expansion is considered in more detail.     

Restricted even permutations and Chebyshev polynomials

We study generating functions for the number of even (odd) permutations on n letters avoiding 132 and an arbitrary permutation τ on k letters, or containing τ exactly once. In several interesting cases the generating function depends only on k and is expressed via Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind.