Fast algorithms for interpolation with L-splines for differential operators L of order 4 with constant coefficients

Abstract: In the classical theory of cubic interpolation splines there exists an algorithm which works with only $O\left( n\right)$ arithmetic operations. Also, the smoothing cubic splines may be computed via the algorithm of Reinsch which reduces their computation to interpolation cubic splines and also performs with $O\left( n\right)$ arithmetic operations. In this paper it is shown that many features of the polynomial cubic spline setting carry over to the larger class of $L$-splines where $L$ is a linear differential operator of order $4$ with constant coefficients. Criteria are given such that the associated matrix $R$ is strictly diagonally dominant which implies the existence of a fast algorithm for interpolation.