Riemann-Hilbert problems for multiple orthogonal polynomials (Q2760149)

The connection between the ordinary Padé table and orthogonal polynomials is well known and a generalization of the Padé table (in two directions) dates back to the turn of 19th/20th century. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEThe first to give a systematic treatment of these generalizations was \textit{K. Mahler} [``Perfect systems'', Compos. Math. 19, 95-166 (1968; Zbl 0168.31303)]; a more recent reference is the monograph by \textit{E. M. Nikishin} and \textit{V. N. Sorokin} [``Rational approximations and orthogonality'' (1991; Zbl 0733.41001)]. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEDuring recent years the concept of `multiple orthogonality' has received more attention, a development running parallel to the study of various aspects of the theory of ordinary orthogonal polynomials using a Riemann-Hilbert problem approach (find a complex \(2\times 2\) matrix valued function, analytic in \(\mathbb{C}\setminus \mathbb{R}\) having prescribed growth as \(z\rightarrow\infty\) and which satisfies a jump condition crossing the real axis; the weight is present in this jump condition). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEIn the paper under review the authors give a short introduction into the theory of multiple orthogonal polynomials and then pose generalized Riemann-Hilbert problems that have the type I and type II multiple orthogonal polynomials as solution vector and that can also be used to derive relations between the two types of polynomials for the same \(r\)-tuple of functions (the problem studies \((r+1)\times (r+1)\) matrices). NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEMoreover they treat a normalization of the Riemann-Hilbert problem that enables one to replace the growth condition by the condition that the identity matrix is obtained for \(z\rightarrow\infty\). This involves a description of the asymptotic zero distribution of the multiple orthogonal polynomials, leading to a vector of probability measures that solves an equilibrium problem for logarithmic potentials. Finally, a survey is given how to obtain these asymptotic distributions for Angelesco- and Nikishin-systems of functions. NEWLINENEWLINENEWLINEAn excellent paper.NEWLINENEWLINEFor the entire collection see [Zbl 0969.00053].