Weighted Polynomial Approximation in the Complex Plane

Given a pair (G,W) of an open bounded set G in the complex plane and a weight function W(z) which is analytic and different from zero in G , we consider the problem of the locally uniform approximation of any function f(z) , which is analytic in G , by weighted polynomials of the form {W ⁿ (z)P _n (z) } ^$infinity$ _n=0 , where deg P_n n. The main result of this paper is a necessary and sufficient condition for such an approximation to be valid. We also consider a number of applications of this result to various classical weights, which give explicit criteria for these weighted approximations. May 1, 1996. Date revised: October 8, 1996.