Equivalence of a scalar and a vector equilibrium problem for a pair of functions forming a Nikishin system (Q2304513)

This paper aims at further developing a new approach to the study of extremal problems and equilibrium problems that naturally arise when studying the limit distribution of zeros of Hermite-Padé polynomials. The essence of this approach, proposed by the author [Proc. Steklov Inst. Math. 301, 245--261 (2018; Zbl 1405.30038); translation from Tr. Mat. Inst. Steklova 301, 259--275 (2018)], is that he considers instead of the traditional vector equilibrium problem on the Riemann sphere \(\widehat{\mathbb{C}}\) a scalar problem on a Riemann surface. The author presents new arguments showing that this alternative scalar approach is natural and expedient. Namely, he proves, without resorting to the problem on the limit distribution of zeros of Hermite-Padé polynomials and only relying on potential theory on compact Riemann surfaces, that in \[ P^\lambda(\mathbf{z}) + V (\mathbf{z})\left\{\begin{array}{ll}\leq w_{\mathbf{F}}, & \mathbf{z}\in S(\mathbf{\lambda}), \\ \geq w_{\mathbf{F}}, &\mathbf{z}\in\mathbf{F}\setminus S(\mathbf{\lambda}), \end{array}\right. \] as well as in the vector equilibrium problem, equality holds on the entire compact set \(\mathbf{F}\) (which means that \(S(\lambda_{\mathbf{F}}) =\mathbf{F}\)). Also he proves the equivalence of the vector equilibrium problem and the scalar equilibrium problem.