Poliynomial perturbations of transcendental entire functions in the Laguerre-Pólya class (Q2392024)

A real entire function \(\varphi\) is said to belong to the Laguerre-Pólya class, denoted by \(\mathcal{L-P},\) if \(\varphi\) is the uniform limit on compact subsets of \(\mathbb{C}\) of real polynomials having only real zeros. In the paper the authors introduce the notion of a rigid function, that is, a function \(\varphi \in \mathcal{L-P} \) of positive order \(\rho(\varphi)>0\) such that for an arbitrary, nonconstant real polynomial \(p\) which has no zeros in common with \(\varphi\), the entire function \(f=\varphi+p\) possesses some non-real zeros. The paper is devoted to the problem of determining the family of all rigid functions. The authors prove that all entire functions \(\varphi \in \mathcal{L-P}, \) with order greater than 1, are rigid. They also show that if \(1/2<\rho(\varphi)<1\) and \(\varphi \in \mathcal{L-P} \) has only positive zeros, then \(\varphi\) is rigid. If \(\rho(\varphi)=1\) and \(\varphi \in \mathcal{L-P} \) has only a finite number of zeros, or \(\varphi\) has a Fourier integral representation, then \(\varphi\) is rigid. The authors give an elegant example of a non-rigid entire function of order 1. They show that for all \(a\) sufficiently small, the function \(f(z)=a(z+1)+z\cos z\) has only real zeros. Ramifications of the results obtained are also considered in relation to the Hermite-Poulain Theorem and the theory of multiplier sequences.