Approximation of certain functions by exponentials on a half line

Introduction. In a recent paper, [l], A. Beurling has shown that the positive translates of an integrable function defined on [0, m0) generate, in a certain sense, at least one exponential of the form e-iz, x > O, Ia < 0, provided that the function does not vanish outside a finite interval. It is the converse problem with which we shall be concerned here; namely, to what extent can the exponentials so generated be used to approximate the given function. We are able to give what amounts to a complete solution. The situation resembles strongly that of Schwartz' theory of mean periodic functions [2]. M. Kahane has shown in [3] (see also [41) how this theory can be presented very simply using the notion of Fourier transform of a mean periodic function. Beurling also made use of this method in the present case; however, we shall find it convenient to exploit this tool more systematically, in closer analogy with Kahane's work. We shall also study our approximations in a topology (the same as the one used in the theory of mean periodic functions) which is simpler than that of Beurling. Beurling based his work mainly on a certain division theorem which states roughly that an entire function is of finite exponential type if it is bounded on a half plane and equal to the ratio of two bounded analytic functions on the complementary half plane. The conclusions we make here follow from a refinement of this given in ?3 which yields an upper bound for the type of such an entire function. It should be remarked that B. Nyman ([7, pp. 28-29]) has established a result similar to the one given here, using, however, a quite different topology. (The referee calls attention to this in his report; although I have since had the opportunity to consult Nyman's work, it was not accessible to me in New York at the first writing of this paper.)