Zeros of discriminants constructed from Hermite-Padé polynomials of an algebraic function and their relation to branch points (Q6986401)

Let \(f_{\infty}\) be the germ at \(\infty\) of some algebraic function \(f\) of degree \(m+1\). The function \(f\) is the solution of the equation \(P(z,f(z))\equiv 0\) where \(P(z, w)\) is an irreducible polynomial in \(z\) and \(w\) and deg\(_w P(z, w) = m+1\). Let \(Q_{n,j}\), \(j=0\), \(\ldots\), \(m\), be the Hermite-Padé polynomials of the first type of order \(n\in \mathbb{N}\) constructed from the tuple of germs \([1, f_{\infty}, f_{\infty}^2, \ldots , f_{\infty}^m]\).\N\NThe authors study the asymptotic properties of discriminants constructed from the Hermite-Padé polynomials in question, that is, the discriminants \(D_n(z)\) of the polynomials \(Q_{n,m}(z)w^m+Q_{n,m-1}(z)w^{m-1}+\cdots +Q_{n,0}(z)\). They find their weak asymptotics, as well as the asymptotic behaviour of their ratio with the polynomial \(Q_{n,m}^{2m-2}\). They also refine the weak asymptotic formulae for \(D_n\) at branch points of the original algebraic function \(f\) and apply the results obtained to the problem of finding branch points of \(f\) numerically on the basis of the prescribed germ \(f_{\infty}\), which is used in applied problems.