Arithmetic properties of Bernoulli-Padé numbers and polynomials. (Q5960996)

Let \(r,s\) be nonnegative integers. The authors define rational numbers \(B_n^{(r,s)}\), the \(n\)th Bernoulli-Padé numbers of order \((r,s)\), by the formula \[ \frac{(-1)^sr!s!t^{r+s+1}}{(r+s)!(r+s+1)!(Q^{(r,s)}(t)e^t- P^{(r,s)}(t))} = \sum_{n=0}^\infty B_n^{(r,s)}\frac{t^n}{n!}, \] where \(P^{(r,s)}(t)\) and \(Q^{(r,s)}(t)\) are polynomials (given explicitly) such that \(P^{(r,s)}(t)/Q^{(r,s)}(t)\) is a Padé approximant of the function \(e^t\). In fact, this quotient is the element lying in the \(s\)th row and \(r\)th column in the Padé table for \(e^t\). In particular, \(B_n^{(0,0)}\) equals the ordinary Bernoulli number \(B_n\). The authors moreover define the Bernoulli-Padé polynomials of order \((r,s)\), denoted \(B_n^{(r,s)}(x)\), by multiplying the above generating function by \(e^{xt}\). They show that these numbers and polynomials have many properties similar to the ordinary \(B_n\) and \(B_n(x)\). For example, the numbers \(B_n^{(r,s)}\) satisfy analogues of the Kummer congruences and the von Staudt-Clausen theorem, and the polynomials \(B_n^{(r,s)}(x)\) for \(n=p-r-s-1\) are irreducible for all primes \(p > r+s+1\). This generalization of Bernoulli numbers and polynomials contains as special cases sequences studied by \textit{F. T. Howard} [Duke Math. J. 34, 701--716 (1967; Zbl 0189.04205); Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 210, 233--248 (1975; Zbl 0308.10008)]. In an article to appear in `Number Theory for the Millennium, I' (eds. Bruce Berndt et al., AK Peters, 343--363 (2002; Zbl 1140.11309), the first author will extend the above definitions to real and complex parameters \(r,s\).