Possible projects for interested students:


Project 1: Theory of multiple orthogonal polynomials on the unit circle

Required knowledge: Linear Algebra, Complex Analysis

Useful (not required) knowledge: Measure Theory; Functional Analysis; Operator Theory

Level: Bachelor, Master, PhD

Details: Multiple orthogonal polynomials are polynomials orthogonal with respect to the several measures. When the orthogonality measures are on the real line, the theory is very well-developed. When the measures are on the complex unit circle though, there are many interesting questions that remain open. There has been a very interesting progress in this direction and the project is to explore these new developments and extend the theory further. The level of the project can be tailored to the ambition of the student.


Project 2: Gaussian quadrature on the real line and on the unit circle

Required knowledge: Calculus

Useful knowledge: Real and complex analysis

Level: Bachelor, Master, PhD

Details: Gaussian quadrature is a family of numerical methods for evaluating integrals of f(x) by expresing it as a weighted sums of f evaluated at appropiately chosen points. To maximize precision the chosen points must be zeros of the corresponding orthogonal polynomials if the integration is over the real line. For integration on the unit circle, one needs zeros of the so-called para-orthogonal polynomials. Depending on the level and ambition of the student, one can even study simultaneous Gaussian quadrature rules involving several integrals at the same time by using theory of multiple orthogonal polynomials.


Project 3: Non-classical finite rank perturbation of Jacobi and CMV operators

Required knowledge: Linear Algebra; Complex Analysis; Measure Theory

Useful knowledge: Functional Analysis; Operator Theory

Level: Master, PhD

Details: This project investigates spectral properties of non-Hermitian perturbations of real Jacobi operators and non-unitary perturbations of CMV operators. We will restrict ourselves to the case of finite rank perturbations and compare the situation with the classical perturbations.


Project 4: Matrix-valued multiple orthogonal polynomials

Required knowledge: Linear Algebra; Complex Analysis; Measure Theory

Useful knowledge: Functional Analysis; Operator Theory

Level: Master, PhD

Details: The project consists of surveying known theory of multiple orthogonality and matrix-valued orthogonality and the task is to develop theory for the combination of them: matrix-valued multiple orthogonal polynomials.


Project 5: Recurrence relations for orthogonal polynomials: on the real line, the unit circle, and beyond

Required knowledge: Linear Algebra

Useful (not required) knowledge: Complex Analysis; Matlab/Mathematica; Probability

Level: Bachelor

Details: The project is to survey the recurrence relations satisfied by the orthogonal polynomials in various settings: on the real line, on the unit circle, and for their multivariate and multiple generalizations. Using Matlab/Mathematica, one could use these relations to numerically observe asymptotics of the orthogonal polynomials and their zeros. Depending on the student's ambition and background, one could include the case of orthogonal polynomials with random recurrence coefficients.


Rostyslav Kozhan, kozhan [at] math [dot] uu [dot] se