Conditionally positive definite functions and Laplace-Stieltjes integrals (Q1308797): Difference between revisions

For \(h \in C([0,\infty[)\) a famous theorem of Schoenberg states that \(h (|x |^2)\) is conditionally positive definite on \(\mathbb{R}^d\) for all \(d \in \mathbb{N} \Leftrightarrow - h'\) is completely monotone on \(]0, \infty[\). \textit{C. A. Micchelli} proved [Constructive Approximation 2, 11- 22 (1986; Zbl 0625.41005)] that if for some \(k \in \mathbb{N}\) the function \((- 1)^k h^{(k)}\) is completely monotone on \(]0, \infty[\), then \(h (|x |^2)\) is conditionally positive definite of order \(k\) (a natural generalization, \(k = 1\) corresponding to the notion mentioned above) on \(\mathbb{R}^d\) for every \(d \in \mathbb{N}\). The converse of this statement was so far a conjecture, and is proven in the present paper. The proof follows the classical way, as presented, e.g. in the monograph of \textit{W. F. Donoghue jun.}: ``Distributions and Fourier transforms'' (1969; Zbl 0188.181)]. Another proof using ``semigroup methods'' would be worthwhile, since it would lead very likely to a more general result.