The orthogonality property of the Lommel polynomials and a twofold infinity of relations between Rayleigh's \(\sigma\)-sums (Q761584)

Making use of a remarkable theorem which expresses a relationship between a certain type of infinite continued fractions and systems of orthogonal polynomials, it is proven that the known infinite continued fraction development of the ratio of Bessel functions \(J_{\nu - 1}(z)/J_{\nu}(z)\) gives rise to an orthogonality property of the Lommel polynomials \(\{R_{m,\nu}(1/z)| m\in {\mathbb{N}}\}\) when \(\nu\) is real and positive. The corresponding weight function which appears to be non- negative in the interval of definition, is obtained by successive application of the complex Fourier and the Laplace transformation and their inversions. It consists of an infinite series of Dirac \(\delta\)- functions whose singularities are located symmetrically around the origin of the real axis in such a manner that the origin is their limit point on both sides. The orthogonality property may also be conveniently expressed by means of a Stieltjes integral, making use of the measure. The related functions of the second kind are obtained in terms of ratios of Bessel functions. The last section of the paper comprises some consequences of the orthogonality of the Lommel polynomials. The most interesting one is a twofold infinity of linear relations between the sums \(\sigma_{\nu}^{(r)}\) defined by \(\sigma_{\nu}^{(r)}=\sum^{+\infty}_{n=1}1/j^{2r}_{\nu,n}\) with \(\nu +1\in {\mathbb{R}}^+_ 0\), \(r\in {\mathbb{N}}_ 0\), in which \(j_{\nu,n}\) represents the n th positive zero of \(J_{\nu}(z)\). Other by-products of the study are a complement to a theorem of Hurwitz concerning the nature and the location of the zeros of the Lommel polynomials written in the modified notation \(g_{m,\nu}(z)\) and two approximations of \(j_{\nu,1}\) applicable when \(\nu \in]-1,+1].\) The article ends with an appendix concerning the exact series expansion of \(j_{\nu,1}\) in positive half-integer powers of \((\nu +1)\) and a note added in proof whereby the author mentions the existence of two earlier independent proofs of the orthogonality of the Lommel polynomials. From his comments, it is clear that the method used in the present article differs entirely from those which were used in the previous papers. In the meantime, this method has also been successfully applied to some other problems involving orthogonal polynomials and their weight function.