Polynomial approximation on the boundary and strictly inside

Abstract

We investigate the possibility of approximating a function on a compact setK of the complex plane in such a way that the rate of approximation is almost optimal onK, and the rate inside the interior ofK is faster than on the whole ofK. We show that ifK has an external angle smaller than π at some point z_o∈δK, then geometric convergence insideK is possible only for functions that are analytic at z_o. We also consider the possibility of approximation rates of the form exp(−cn ^β), for approximation insideK, where β is related to the largest external angle ofK. It is also shown that no matter how slowly the sequence {γ _n } tends to zero, there is aK and a Lip β, β<1, functionf such that approximation insideK cannot have order {γ _n }.