Interpolation by generalized exponential sums with equal weights

Here we solve Pad\'e and Prony interpolation problems for the generalized exponential sums with equal weights: $$H_n(z; h)=\frac{\mu}{n}\sum_{k=1}^n h(\lambda_k z),\quad \text{where}\quad \mu,\lambda_k\in \mathbb{C},$$ and $h$ is a fixed analytic function under few natural assumptions. The interpolation of a function $f$ by $H_n$ is due to properly chosen $\mu$ and $\{\lambda_k\}_{k=1}^n$, which depend on $f$, $h$ and $n$. The sums $H_n$ are related to the $h$-sums and generalized exponential sums, i.e. to $$\mathcal{H}^*_n(z; h)=\sum_{k=1}^n \lambda_k h(\lambda_k z)\quad \text{and}\quad\mathcal{H}_n(z; h):=\sum_{k=1}^n \mu_k h(\lambda_k z),\quad \text{where}\quad \mu_k,\lambda_k\in \mathbb{C},$$ which generalize many classical approximants and whose properties are actively studied. As for the Pad\'e problem, we show that $H_n$ and $\mathcal{H}_n^*$ have similar constructions and rates of interpolation, whereas calculating $H_n$ requires less arithmetic operations. Although the Pad\'e problem for $\mathcal{H}_n$ is known to have a doubled interpolation rate with respect to $\mathcal{H}_n^*$ and thus to $H_n$, it can be however unsolvable in many useful cases and this may entirely eliminate the advantage of $\mathcal{H}_n$. We show that, in contrast to $\mathcal{H}_n$, the Pad\'e problem for $H_n$ always has a unique solution. More importantly, we also obtain efficient estimates for $\mu$ and $\lambda_k$, valuable by themselves, and use them in further evaluating interpolation quality and in applications. The Pad\'e problem and estimates provide a basis for managing the more interesting Prony problem for exponential sums with equal weights $H_n(z;\exp)$, i.e. when $h(z)=\exp(z)$. We show that it is uniquely solvable and surprisingly $\mu$ and $\lambda_k$ can be efficiently estimated. This is in sharp contrast to the case of well-known exponential sums $\mathcal{H}_n(z;\exp)$.