On the positive definiteness of \(n\mapsto e^{pn^{\alpha}}\) for \(\alpha\) close to 2 (Q5948320)

The author considers the positive definiteness of the functions \(g_{\alpha}(n)= e^{n{^\alpha}}\), defined on \({\mathbf N}\). The problem is to find the best constant \(q\) such that, for all \(p > q\), \(g_{\alpha}^p\) is a positive definite function. It was known [cf. \textit{Ch. Berg, J. Christensen} and \textit{P. Ressel}, Harmonic analysis on semigroups. Theory of positive definite and related functions, Graduate Texts in Mathematics, 100. Springer-Verlag. Berlin (1984; Zbl 0619.43001)] that for \(0 \leq \alpha \leq 2\) this constant is \(0\). For \(\alpha > 2\), close enough to \(2\), the author finds an upper bound for \(Q^+(\alpha) =\inf\{q \in ]0,\infty]: g_{\alpha}^p\) is a positive definite function, for \(p > q\}\). This permits him to prove that \(Q^+(\alpha) \to 0\) as \(\alpha \to 2\).