On asymptotic zero distribution of Laguerre and generalized Bessel polynomials with varying parameters (Q5946619)

The authors consider the Laguerre polynomials defined for arbitrary \(\alpha\in{\mathbb C}\) by \[ L_n^{(\alpha)}(z)=\sum_{k=0}^n {n+\alpha\choose n-k}{(-z)^k\over k!} \] and consider a sequence \(p_n(z)=L_n^{\alpha_n}(nz)\) for which \[ \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty} {\alpha_n\over n}=A\in{\mathbb R} \] exists. The main result then gives the support of the weak-star limit \(\mu\) of the normalized counting measure \(\nu_n\) (i.e. \(\int_K \text{d}\nu_n={\text{number of zeros of }p_n\text{ in }K \over n}\) for any compact set \(K\) in \(\mathbb C\)). The support of \(\mu\) turns out to be a simple analytic arc, symmetric with respect to \(\mathbb R\) and endpoints \(\zeta_{\pm}=A+2\pm 2\sqrt{A+1}\). As a corollary information concerning the zeros of a sequence of generalized Bessel polynomials \(B_n^{\alpha_n)}(z/n)\) is obtained from \(B_n^{(\alpha)}(z)=z^nL_n^{(-2n-\alpha+1)}(2/z)\). The proof uses logarithmic potentials.