Asymptotics of Chebyshev polynomials. I: Subsets of \({\mathbb {R}}\) (Q522197)

The authors consider Chebyshev polynomials, \(T_n(z)\), for infinite, compact sets \(e \subset R\) (that is, the monic polynomials minimizing the sup-norm, \(||T_n||_e\) on \(e\)) and resolve a 45+ year old conjecture of Widom that for finite gap subsets of \(R\) his conjectured asymptotics (which they call Szegö-Widom asymptotics) holds. They also prove the first upper bounds of the form \(||T_n||_e \leq Q C(e)^n\) (where \(C(e)\) is the logarithmic capacity of \(e\)) for a class of \(e\)'s with an infinite number of components, explicitly for those \(e \subset R\) that obey a Parreau-Widom condition. The paper is organized as follows: Section 1 is an introduction, where the authors discuss work by \textit{G. Szegö} [Math. Z. 21, 203--208 (1924; JFM 50.0044.02)], \textit{V. Totik} [J. Approx. Theory 160, No. 1--2, 187--201 (2009; Zbl 1190.41002)], \textit{H. Widom} [Adv. Math. 3, 127--232 (1969; Zbl 0183.07503)], \textit{P. W. Jones} and \textit{D. E. Marshall} [Ark. Mat. 23, 281--314 (1985; Zbl 0589.30028)], \textit{G. Faber} [J. Reine Angew. Math. 150, 79--106 (1919; JFM 47.0315.01)], \textit{M. Sodin} and \textit{P. Yuditskii} [J. Geom. Anal. 7, No. 3, 387--435 (1997; Zbl 1041.47502)], the authors [Constr. Approx. 32, No. 1, 1--65 (2010; Zbl 1200.42012)], and in particular Widom's seminal work [loc. cit.], among others. This section also contains definitions of gap sets, Robin constant, Schiefermayr's bound, Parreau-Widom sets, Wirtinger calculus, the Widom surmise, Szegö-Widom asymptotics, poses a number of conjectures and states the main results of the paper. Section 2 discusses periodic sets, mentions that \(\varepsilon_n:=T_n^{-1}([-||T_n||_{\varepsilon}, |T_n||_{\varepsilon}])\), which was introduced in Section 1, determines many properties of \(T_n\), introduces the notion of period-\(n\) set and, among other results, shows that \(\varepsilon_n\) is a period--\(n\) set. Section 3 presents results on root asymptotics, Section 4, titled ``Totik-Widom bounds'', presents a proof of the first main result of the paper, concerning the bounds of \(||T_n||_e\), whereas in Section 5, titled ``Szegö-Widom asymptotics'', the authors prove their second main result, thus settling in the affirmative Widom's 1969 conjecture. Throughout the paper the authors regale us with a wide ranging discussion of background information, presented from various points of view. The extensive bibliography lists 55 items. For Part II, see [the authors et al., Duke Math. J. 168, No. 2, 325--349 (2019; Zbl 1426.41035)].