Total nonnegativity of infinite Hurwitz matrices of entire and meromorphic functions

Abstract

In this paper we fully describe functions generating the infinite totally nonnegative Hurwitz matrices. In particular, we generalize the well-known result by Asner and Kemperman on the total nonnegativity of the Hurwitz matrices of real stable polynomials. An alternative criterion for entire functions to generate a P\'olya frequency sequence is also obtained. The results are based on a connection between a factorization of totally nonnegative matrices of the Hurwitz type and the expansion of Stieltjes meromorphic functions into Stieltjes continued fractions (regular $C$-fractions with positive coefficients).