Zero distribution of orthogonal polynomials in a certain discrete Sobolev space (Q2367637)

The author considers the linear space of the polynomials with real coefficients in a real variable, equipped with the Sobolev inner product \[ \langle f,g \rangle=\int_ 0^ \infty f(x)g(x)d \psi(x)+Nf^{(r)}(0)g^{(r)}(0), \] with \(N \geq 0\), \(r\geq 1\) an integer and \(\psi\) an arbitrary distribution function; \(x=0\) may be on the boundary of the support of the measure. The main results concern the zeros of the polynomials \(S_ n\), orthogonal w.r.t. the Sobolev inner product and generalize results by \textit{P. Althammer} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 211, 192-204 (1962; Zbl 0108.272)], \textit{J. Brenner} [Proc. Conf. Construct Theory Functions (Approximation Theory) 1969, 77-83 (1972; Zbl 0234.33016)] and \textit{E. A. Cohen} jun. [SIAM J. Math. Anal. 6, 105-116 (1975; Zbl 0272.42013)]. Let \(\text{supp} \psi \subset[0,a)\) with \(a \leq \infty\), then 1. \(S_ n\) has \(n\) real simple zeros, at most one outside \((0,a)\). 2. If \(S_ n\) has a zero outside \((0,a)\), then it is located in \((-\infty,0]\) and \(n \geq r+1\). Also a criterion is given for the existence of a negative zero and the position of the zeros of \(S_ n\) is studied relative to the location of the zeros of the classical orthogonal polynomials \(K_ n\) w.r.t. \(d \psi\) and \(\tilde K_{n-1}\) w.r.t. \(x^ 2d \psi\). Finally, an estimate is given for the absolute value of the negative zero.