Skip to main content
1 of 3
mike
  • 603
  • 3
  • 13

Hermite-Kakeya Theorem for entire functions

In a question asked by Bobby Ocean, the following theorem is cited:

Hermite-Kakeya Theorem(for polynomials) - Given two real-valued polynomials, $f$ and $g$, then $f(x)+g(x) r$ has only real zeros for every $r\in\mathbb{R}$, if and only if, $f$ and $g$ have real interlacing zeros. (see Rahman & Schmeisser, page 197-199).

Question Is there a similar theorem for entire functions as stated below:

Hermite-Kakeya (for entire functions) - Given two entire functions, $f$ and $g$, and $f(z)$ and $g(z)$ are real when $z\in\mathbb{R}$, and

$$f(z)=\prod_{k=1}^{\infty}\left(1-\frac{z}{\alpha_k}\right)\tag{1}$$

$$g(z)=\prod_{k=1}^{\infty}\left(1-\frac{z}{\beta_k}\right)\tag{2}$$

where $0<\alpha_1<\alpha_2<\cdots<\alpha_k<\cdots<\infty$,$0<\beta_1<\beta_2<\cdots<\beta_k<\cdots<\infty$,

then $f(z)-g(z)$ has only real zeros, if and only if, the zeros of $f$ are interlacing with those of $g$.

For example $$f(z)=\cos\sqrt{z}=\prod_{k=1}^{\infty}\left(1-\frac{z}{((k-1/2)\pi)^2}\right)\tag{3}$$

$$g(z)=\frac{\sin\sqrt{z}}{\sqrt{z}}=\prod_{k=1}^{\infty}\left(1-\frac{z}{(k\pi)^2}\right)\tag{4}$$

Thanks- mike

mike
  • 603
  • 3
  • 13