Brenke polynomials with real zeros and the Riemann Hypothesis

Abstract

If $A(z)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty a_nz^n$ and $B(z)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty b_nz^n$ are two formal power series, with $a_n,b_n\in \mathbb{R}$, the polynomials $(p_n)_n$ defined by the generating function $$ A(z)B(xz)=\sum_{n=0}^\infty p_n(x)z^n $$ are called the Brenke polynomials generated by $A$ and associated to $B$. We say that $A\in \mathcal{R}_B$ if the Brenke polynomials $(p_n)_n$ have only real zeros. Among other results, in this paper we find necessary and sufficient conditions on $B$ such that $\mathcal{R}_B=\mathcal{L}\text{-}\mathcal{P}$, where $\mathcal{L}\text{-}\mathcal{P}$ denotes the Laguerre-P\'olya class (of entire functions). These results can be considered an extension to Brenke polynomials of the Jensen, and P\'olya and Schur characterization $\mathcal{R}_{e^z}=\mathcal{L}\text{-}\mathcal{P}$, for Appell polynomials. When applying our results to a relative of the Riemann zeta function, we find new equivalencies for the Riemann Hypothesis in terms of real-rootedness of some sequences of Brenke polynomials.