Rational approximation in the complex plane using a τ-method and computer algebra

Numerous versions of the Lanczos τ-methods have been extensively used to produce polynomial approximations for functions verifying a linear differential equation with polynomial coefficients. In the case of an initial-value problem, an adapted τ-method based on Chebyshev series and the use of symbolic computation lead to a rational approximation of the solution on a region of the complex plane. Numerical examples show that the simplicity of the method does not prevent a high accuracy of results. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.