Expected discrepancy for zeros of random algebraic polynomials

Abstract

We study asymptotic clustering of zeros of random polynomials and show that the expected discrepancy of roots of a polynomial of degree $n$, with not necessarily independent coefficients, decays like $\sqrt {\log n/n}$. Our proofs rely on discrepancy results for deterministic polynomials and on order statistics of a random variable. We also consider the expected number of zeros lying in certain subsets of the plane, such as circles centered on the unit circumference, and polygons inscribed in the unit circumference.