The elliptic functions and integrals of the ``1/9'' problem (Q1587028)

In this very interesting paper, the authors elegantly and clearly present the main ideas behind the solution of the ``1/9'' problem. This problem deals with the asumptotic behaviour as \(n\to\infty\) of \[ E_{nn}[e^{-x}]: =\inf \Bigl\{\bigl\|e^{-x}-(P/Q) (x)\bigr \|_{L_\infty [0,\infty)}: P,Q \text{ polynomials of degree }\leq n\Bigr\}. \] The name ``1/9''th arose in the early stages of investigating the problem: it was initially conceivable that \(\lim_{n\to \infty}E_{nn} [e^{-x}]^{1/n} =1/9\). After many years of effort by many authors, A. A. Gonchar and E. A. Rakhmanov proved in 1987, A. Magnus' conjecture that \(\lim_{n\to \infty}E_{nn} [e^{-x}]^{1/n}= \rho=1/9.289025\dots\) where \(\rho=-q^2\) and \(\sum^\infty_{n=1} {q^{2n} \over(1+q^{2n})^2}= -{1\over 8}\). The authors clearly lay out the main ideas in the proof, many due to H. Stahl, involving interpolation by rational functions at carefully chosen points; the use of potential theory to determine those interpolation points; the solution of extremal problems in potential theory, and above all the role of special functions. This is an excellent presentation of the ideas and functions used in the deep solution of an important problem.