For degree-$n$ polynomials with all zeros on the unit circle, the least normalized residual $\|P'-\lambda P\|_{H^2}/\|P\|_{H^2}$ tends to $1/\sqrt8$, both for arbitrary complex $\lambda$ and for the restricted slope $\lambda=P'(0)$, $P(0)=1$. We prove the sharp lower limit through the classical Mathieu ground state and give an explicit circle-root family attaining it in every large degree. In contrast, exactly one zero strictly inside the disk, with all remaining zeros on the circle, permits restricted residual $O(n^{-1/6})$, giving the exact zero-count threshold for collapse. More generally, for each fixed $A>0$, a fixed number $M_A$ of interior zeros permits $O(n^{-A})$. Their distance and radial gap from 1 have order $n^{-1/3}$; explicit algebraic parameters in the one-root case, and an implicit-function construction in general, correct both degree rounding and the exact slope. For all disk-root polynomials and arbitrary slope, we also prove a uniform lower bound $\exp(-C\sqrt n)$ for every $C>\sqrt{(8/3)\log17}$, explicitly $\exp(-3\sqrt n)$ for $n\ge10^4$. This refines the known residual method for exterior power sums; the negative answer to Erdos Problem 973 was already known. The optimal disk and one-root decay rates, and small exterior power-sum constructions, remain unresolved.
Working paper. Citable, but not yet screened for the AIRR collection.
We classify the numbers of interior zeros that permit vanishing and superalgebraic differentiation residuals for polynomials whose zeros lie in the closed unit disk. If a degree-$n$ polynomial has exactly $M$ strictly interior zeros, then, for every complex slope, its normalized $H^2$ residual is at least $n/[2\sqrt216^M(n+2M+4)^{2M+2}]$. Consequently a prescribed budget $b_n$ permits a superalgebraically small residual sequence if and only if $b_n\to\infty$. Sufficiency holds with real coefficients, normalization at the origin, the slope fixed by that normalization, and exactly $b_n$ interior zeros. In contrast, one interior zero already permits residuals $O(n^{-1/6})$, with family-specific asymptotic constant $\sqrt{15}/4^{4/3}$, whereas the circle-only infimum tends to $1/\sqrt8$. For one interior zero we also prove a universal $c n^{-13/6}$ lower bound; the optimal rate remains open. The finite-budget obstruction combines a reciprocal identity with classical Mahler, truncated-shift and Poisson-kernel estimates, and extends to a stable factor times a self-inversive cofactor. For unrestricted interior counts we prove $\exp(-C\sqrt n)$ lower bounds for every $C>\sqrt{(8/3)\log17}$. The upper construction corrects both the exact slope and degree rounding at every large degree. The resulting refinement of exterior power-sum bounds uses a known residual method; the negative answer to Erdos Problem 973 was already known. No matching fixed-budget rates or stretched-exponential upper bounds are claimed.
Working paper. Citable, but not yet screened for the AIRR collection.
