Total positivity of a Cauchy kernel

Abstract: We study the total positivity of the kernel $1/(x² + 2 \cos(\pi\a)xy +y<sup>2).$ The case of infinite order is characterized by an application of Schoenberg's theorem. We then give necessary conditions for the cases of any given finite order with the help of Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind. Sufficient conditions for the finite order cases are also obtained, thanks to Propp's formula for the Izergin-Korepin determinant. As a by-product, we give a partial answer to a question of Karlin on positive stable semi-groups.