Polynomials of least deviation from zero (Q5920322)

The \(p\)th degree Chebyshev polynomials of the first and second kind are the unique homogeneous polynomials (of degree p) of minimal norm in \(C[-1,1]\) and \(L_1[1,1]\), respectively. Identifying the polynomials with this property is equivalent to finding and characterizing the polynomials of degree \(p-1\) (or fewer) that best approximate \(x^p\) in these two norms. This work investigates homogenous polynomials with analogous properties but with the domain \([-1,1]\) replaced with a unit sphere in \(R^d\). Various methods to construct such minimal norm functions are outlined. Examples of non-uniqueness are given, and open questions are detailed.