On positive definiteness of some radial functions (Q2357049)

Radial basis functions are a fundamentally important tool in approximation theory and in particular in high dimensional dimensions and in particular again to scattered data. Obviously a highly relevant question is that of the uniqueness of the scattered data interpolants and therefore that of the regularity of the symmetric interpolation matrix. A subclass of these radial basis functions admits in fact a positive definite interpolation matrix and the definition of this subset of radial functions is related to complete and multiple monotonicity of the (univariate) radial part of the basis functions. Such positive definite radial basis functions and especially those of compact support are considered in this article. Families of functions considered by Zastavnyi in an earlier article are studied that contain other well-known radial basis function of compact support, such as B.-functions. Necessary and sufficient conditions on the mentioned classes of radial basis functions are provided that guarantee positive definiteness of the interpolation matrices.