Properties of minors of the Wronskian for solutions of \(L_ ny+p(x)y=0\) as related to (k,n-k) disfocality (Q914913)

Of concern is the differential equation \((*)\quad L_ ny+p(x)y=0,\) where p is a real valued, continuous function on [a,\(\infty)\), which has a constant sign, while \(L_ n\) (n is a positive integer) denotes a disconjugate linear differential operator. The authors are interested in constructing bases for the solution space of (*), as related to the existence of focal or conjugate points. In this process, the asymptotic properties of some minors of the Wronskian of a basis for the solution space to (*) are discussed.