The convergence of diagonal Padé approximants and the Padé Conjecture

AbstractQuestions related to the convergence problem of diagonal Padé approximants are discussed. A central place is taken by the Padé Conjecture (also known as the Baker-Gammel-Wills Conjecture). Partial results concerning this conjecture are reviewed and weaker and more special versions of the conjecture are formulated and their plausibility is investigated. Great emphasis is given to the role of spurious poles of the approximants. A conjecture by Nuttall (1970) about the number and distribution of such poles is stated and its importance for the Padé Conjecture is analyzed