Interlacing of zeros of Laguerre polynomials of equal and consecutive degree

TL;DR

This paper studies the interlacing properties of zeros of Laguerre polynomials with equal or consecutive degrees and shifted parameters, establishing conditions for partial or full interlacing and providing numerical illustrations.

Contribution

It derives new conditions for partial and full interlacing of zeros of Laguerre polynomials with shifted parameters and degrees, extending previous sharp interval results.

Findings

Zeros of Laguerre polynomials partially interlace under certain conditions.

Full interlacing occurs within specific parameter intervals.

Numerical examples illustrate interlacing behavior and breakdowns.

Abstract

We investigate interlacing properties of zeros of Laguerre polynomials $ L_{n}^{(\alpha)}(x)$ and $ L_{n+1}^{(\alpha +k)}(x),$ $ \alpha > -1, $ where $ n \in \mathbb{N}$ and $ k \in {\{ 1,2 }\}$. We prove that, in general, the zeros of these polynomials interlace partially and not fully. The sharp $t-$interval within which the zeros of two equal degree Laguerre polynomials $ L_n^{(\alpha)}(x)$ and $ L_n^{(\alpha +t)}(x)$ are interlacing for every $n \in \mathbb{N}$ and each $ \alpha > -1$ is $ 0 < t \leq 2,$ \cite{DrMu2}, and the sharp $t-$interval within which the zeros of two consecutive degree Laguerre polynomials $ L_n^{(\alpha)}(x)$ and $ L_{n-1}^{(\alpha +t)}(x)$ are interlacing for every $n \in \mathbb{N}$ and each $ \alpha > -1$ is $ 0 \leq t \leq 2,$ \cite{DrMu1}. We derive conditions on $n \in \mathbb{N}$ and $\alpha,$ $ \alpha > -1$ that determine the partial or full interlacing of the zeros of $ L_n^{(\alpha)}(x)$ and the zeros of $ L_n^{(\alpha + 2 + k)}(x),$ $ k \in {\{ 1,2 }\}$. We also prove that partial interlacing holds between the zeros of $ L_n^{(\alpha)}(x)$ and $ L_{n-1}^{(\alpha + 2 +k )}(x)$ when $ k \in {\{ 1,2 }\},$ $n \in \mathbb{N}$ and $ \alpha > -1$. Numerical illustrations of interlacing and its breakdown are provided.