On rational approximation of algebraic functions (Q2498830)

Let \(-y^k=\sum_{i=1}^k P_{k-i}(z)y^{k-i}/P_k(z)\) be the equation which defines a multi-valued algebraic function \(f(z)\). Let \(\{q_n(z)\}\) be a sequence of rational functions given by the associated recursion of length \(k+1\) when one substitutes \(\{q_{n-i}(z)\}\) for \(y^{k-i}\), and chooses an initial \(k\)-tuple \(\{q_0,\dots,q_{k-1}\}\). The authors present the rational method \(r_n(z)=q_n(z)/q_{n-1}(z)\) to approximate uniformly certain branches of \(f(z)\). The uniform convergence takes place in \({\mathbb{CP}}^1\backslash{\mathcal{D}}_f\), where \({\mathcal{D}}_f\) is the union of a finite number of segments of algebraic curves and some isolated points. Unlike the usual Padé approximation, the way of constructing \(r_n(z)\) is only based on the algebraic equation satisfied by \(f(z)\). A relevant result is that the corresponding version of both the Padé Conjecture and Nuttall's Conjecture are proved to be true (Theorems 2 and 5). It also follows from the theory developed in the paper that the asymptotic ratio distribution of \(r_n(z)\) can be described and that there exist sequences \(\{r_n(z)\}\) which have no spurious poles. Another consequence of this idea is that \(C\geq 3\) is a necessary condition for the validity of the \(3\)-conjecture of Egecioglu et al. Part of the article is devoted to compare this algebraic approach with the Padé scheme when it is associated to an arbitrary algebraic function \(f(z)\). In the paper some one can also find open problems, new conjectures and applications to complex Sturm-Liouville problems, modern statistical physics and the theory of orthogonal polynomials.