On the zero-free polynomial approximation problem (Q259092)

Let \(E\) be a compact set of \(\mathbb{C}\). Denote by \(A(E)\) the algebra of complex-valued continuous functions on \(E\) which are analytic in the interior of \(E\). In the general case, the possibility of uniform polynomial approximation of functions from the space \(A(E)\) is given by the theorem of S. N. Mergelyan. The special problem of uniform polynomial approximation of a function \(f\in A(E)\) by polynomials which have not zeros in \(E\) was proposed by J. Andersson and P. Gauthier and became the subject of several papers from the last years. It implies a double discussion about the conditions on the domain \(E\) and the properties of the function \(f\in A(E)\). In this direction, in this paper, two results are given which, in the case where \(E\) has a connected complement, assure that certain functions \(f\in A(E)\) allow free-zero uniform polynomial approximation.