New upper bound for the \(B\)-spline basis condition number II. A proof of de Boor's \(2^k\)-conjecture (Q1305493)

The authors prove that the \(p\)-norm condition number \(\kappa_{k,p}\) of the B-spline basis of order \(k\) can be estimated from above by \(\kappa_{k,p} < k 2^k\). Up to the polynomial factor, this result settles a conjecture by de Boor on the behavior of this condition number. In 1976 \textit{C. de Boor} in his paper [Theory Approx., Proc. Conf. Calgary 1975, 120-145 (1976; Zbl 0346.41007)] gave the estimate \(\kappa_{k,p} < k 9^k\) and based his \(2^k\) conjecture on numerical evidence. The authors refine de Boor's original techniques and their own previous results [East. J. Approx. 2, No. 3, 331-342 (1996; Zbl 0859.41009)] to establish their result. They conclude the paper with a discussion of further possible improvements concerning the polynomial factor and specific choices of the \(p\)-norm.