Zeros of Jacobi functions of second kind (Q817467)

The authors study the number of zeros in the interval \((0,1)\) of the Jacobi function of the second kind \(Q_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}(x)\;(\alpha,\beta>-1)\), i.e. the second solution of \[ (1-x^2)y''(x) + \{\beta- \alpha- (\alpha + \beta + 2)\}y'(x) + n(n + \alpha + \beta + 1)y(x)=0. \] For the sequel the zeros of the first (polynomial) solution \(P_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}(x)\) are denoted by \(\{x_{n,k}\}\) with ordering \(-1 < x_{n,n} < \cdots < x_{n,2} < x_{n,1} < 1\). The main results are: \textbf{A.} The number \(N\) of zeros in \((-1,1)\) is \quad\textbf{1.} \(N=n-1\) for \(-1<\alpha,\beta< -\frac{1}{2}\), \quad\textbf{2.} \(N=n\) for \quad\quad\textbf{i.} \(-1<\alpha\leq -\frac{1}{2},\beta>-\frac{1}{2}\) or \quad\quad\textbf{ii.} \(-1<\beta\leq -\frac{1}{2}, \alpha>-\frac{1}{2}\), \quad\textbf{3.} \(N=n+1\) for \(\alpha,\beta> -\frac{1}{2}\). \textbf{B.} Order the zeros of \(Q_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}(x)\) as \(q_{n,k}<q_{n,k+1}\) (the number is \(n-1,\,n\) or \(n+1\) according to \textbf{A}), then \quad\textbf{a.} Always \(x_{n,k+1}<q_{n,k}<x_{n,k}\) for \(1\leq k\leq n-1\), \quad\textbf{b.} In case \textbf{A 2i} an additional zero \(q_{n,n}\in (-1,x_{n,n})\), \quad\textbf{c.} In case \textbf{A 2ii} an additional zero \(q_{n,n}\in (x_{n,1},1)\), \quad\textbf{d.} In case \textbf{A 3} an additional zero \(q_{n,n}\in (-1,x_{n,n})\) and an additional zero \(q_{n,1}\in (x_{n,1},1)\). Moreover, some results on the relative positions of zeros of \(Q_{n+1}^{(\alpha,\beta)}(x), Q_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}{'}(x)\) and \(Q_{n-1}^{(\alpha,\beta)}(x)\) between two consecutive zeros of \(Q_n^{(\alpha,\beta)}(x)\) are given. Finally, using limit relations on the previous results, it is proved that \textbf{C.} The Laguerre function of the second kind \(Q_n^{(\alpha)}(x)\;(\alpha>-1)\) has \(n\) zeros in \((0,\infty)\) for \(-1<\alpha\leq -\frac{1}{2}\) and \(n+1\) for \(\alpha>-\frac{1}{2}\), \textbf{D.} The Hermite function of the second kind \(Q_n(x)\) has exactly \(n+1\) real zeros.