Solution of the truncated parabolic moment problem (Q1764256)

Let \(\beta=\{\beta_{ij}\}_{i,j\geq 0, i+j\leq 2n}\) be a family of real numbers with \(\beta_{00}>0\). Denote the successive rows and columns of the associated moment matrix \({\mathcal M}(n)={\mathcal M}(n)(\beta)\) by \[ 1,X,Y,X^2,YX,Y^2,\dots,X^n,\dots,Y^n; \] the row \(Y^kX^\ell\), column \(Y^iX^j\) entry of \({\mathcal M}(n)\) is given by \(\beta_{i+k,j+\ell}\). If \({\mathcal M}(n)\) is positive, recursively generated and satisfies \(Y=X^2\), the authors obtain a complete solution to the truncated parabolic moment problem for \(\beta\). More exactly, the following statements are proved to be equivalent: (1) \(\beta\) admits a representing (positive Borel) measure \(\mu\) supported in the parabola \(y=x^2\) (i.e., \(\beta_{ij}=\int y_ix_j d\mu,\;0\leq i+j\leq 2n\); \(\mu\) can be taken to be \(\text{rank}\,{\mathcal M}(n)\)-atomic or to have moments of order up to \(2n+2\)); (2) \({\mathcal M}(n)\) admits a positive, recursively generated extension \({\mathcal M}(n+1)\); (3) \({\mathcal M}(n)\) admits a flat extension \({\mathcal M}(n+1)\); (4) \(\text{rank}\,{\mathcal M}(n)\leq\text{card}\,\nu(\beta)\), where \(\nu(\beta)\) denotes the algebraic variety of \(\beta\). We recall from \textit{R. E. Curto} and \textit{L. A. Fialkow} [J. Operator Theory 48, 315--354 (2002; Zbl 1019.47018)] that the truncated moment problem with a degree \(2\) relation can be reduced to the case of a real moment matrix with a column relation corresponding to one of the basic conics, \(x^2+y^2=1\), \(y=x^2\), \(xy=1\), or \(xy=0\). The circle case has been considered in the above mentioned paper, while the hyperbolic cases are analyzed in [\textit{R. E. Curto} and \textit{L. A. Fialkow}, Integral Equations Oper. Theory 52, No. 2, 181--218 (2005; Zbl 1099.47012)]. A new proof (for parabolas) of \textit{J. Stochel}'s [Ark. Mat. 30, 133--148 (1992; Zbl 0819.47015)] solution to the full moment problem on curves of degree \(\leq 2\) (cf. also \textit{J. Stochel} [Glasg. J. Math. 43, 335--341 (2001; Zbl 0995.44004)]) is deduced as a consequence of the main theorem. Certain examples are given to better illustrate the results.