Zeros of Jacobi polynomials \(P_{n}^{(\alpha ,\beta)} \), \(- 2 < \alpha\), \(\beta < -1\) (Q1625756)

The authors show that no sequence of Jacobi polynomials \(\{P_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}\}_{n=0}^\infty\) with \(-2 < \alpha,\beta < -1\) can be orthogonal with respect to any positive measure. This result is proven by establishing that the zeros of \(\{P_{n-1}^{(\alpha,\beta)}\}\) do not interlace those of \(\{P_{n}^{(\alpha,\beta)}\}\) for any \(2\leq n\in \mathbb{N}\) and \(-2 <\alpha,\beta < -1\). Moreover, the interlacing properties of the zeros of the equal degree Jacobi polynomials \(\{P_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}\}\), \(\{P_n^{(\alpha,\beta+1)}\}\), and \(\{P_n^{(\alpha+1,\beta+1)}\}\) are studied. Upper and lower bounds for the extreme zeros of quasi-orthogonal Jacobi polynomials of order 2 with \(-2< \alpha,\beta < -1\) are found.