Higher order alternating sequences (Q1746008)

Non-negative sequences which are decreasing of a higher order \(n\) have been characterized by the author in [Positivity 17, No. 2, 333--340 (2013; Zbl 1286.46010)]. Suitably normalized, they form a Bauer simplex with countably many extreme points. This paper is concerned with sequences alternating of a finite degree \(n\). For \(n=2\), they are the increasing concave sequences. The \(n\)-alternating sequences turn out to be the negative logarithms of infinitely divisible \(n\)-monotone sequences, i.e., of decreasing log-convex sequences when \(n=2\). The author proves that the \(n\)-alternating sequences, properly normalized, also form a Bauer simplex, and describes its countably many extreme points. An essential tool used in the proof is a co-survival function, introduced and exploited by the author in [J. Multivariate Anal. 117, 246--256 (2013; Zbl 1283.60021)].