Positive Polynomials and Boundary Interpolation with Finite Blaschke Products

The famous Jones–Ruscheweyh theorem states that n distinct points on the unit circle can be mapped to n arbitrary points on the unit circle by a Blaschke product of degree at most $$n-1$$ n - 1 . In this paper, we provide a new proof using real algebraic techniques. First, the interpolation conditions are rewritten into complex equations. These complex equations are transformed into a system of polynomial equations with real coefficients. This step leads to a “geometric representation” of Blaschke products. Then another set of transformations is applied to reveal some structure of the equations. Finally, the following two fundamental tools are used: a Positivstellensatz by Prestel and Delzell describing positive polynomials on compact semialgebraic sets using Archimedean module of length N. The other tool is a representation of positive polynomials in a specific form due to Berr and Wörmann. This, combined with a careful calculation of leading terms of occurring polynomials finishes the proof.

Clark measures and a theorem of Ritt

We determine when a finite Blaschke product $B$ can be written, in a non-trivial way, as a composition of two finite Blaschke products (Ritt's problem) in terms of the Clark measure for $B$. Our tools involve the numerical range of compressed shift operators and the geometry of certain polygons circumscribing the numerical range of the relevant operator. As a consequence of our results, we can determine, in terms of Clark measures, when two finite Blaschke products commute.