Approximation of a given function by rational functions Given a function $1/\sqrt{x^2 -k^2}$ where k is a constant with a small imaginary part, how do you go about constructing a rational approximation? I am interested in the L_p  (p=2 or $\infty$) norm of the difference being small on the real line. Both the theoretical and the practical implementation is of interest. 

Eleven years too late.
Using @Robert Israel's approach, the $[n,n]$ Padé approximants $P_n$
$$\sqrt s  =\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\,\frac {1+\sum_{i=1}^n a_i\,\left(s-\frac{1}{2}\right)^i} {1+\sum_{i=1}^n b_i\,\left(s-\frac{1}{2}\right)^i}+O\left(\left(s-\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2n+1}\right) $$ can easily be built starting from the infinite series
$$\sqrt s=\sum_{i=1}^\infty 2^{i-\frac{1}{2}} \binom{\frac{1}{2}}{i}\left(s-\frac{1}{2}\right)^i$$
The table below reports, for a given $n$ the coefficients as well as the norm
$$\Phi_n=\int_0^1 \big[\sqrt s-P_n\big]^2\,ds$$
$$\left(
\begin{array}{cccc}
n & a_i & b_i & \Phi_n \\
 1 & \left\{\frac{3}{2}\right\} & \left\{\frac{1}{2}\right\} &
   9.6\times 10^{-4} \\
 2 & \left\{\frac{5}{2},\frac{5}{4}\right\} &
   \left\{\frac{3}{2},\frac{1}{4}\right\} & 1.35\times 10^{-4} \\
 3 & \left\{\frac{7}{2},\frac{7}{2},\frac{7}{8}\right\} &
   \left\{\frac{5}{2},\frac{3}{2},\frac{1}{8}\right\} &
   3.62\times 10^{-5} \\
 4 &
   \left\{\frac{9}{2},\frac{27}{4},\frac{15}{4},\frac{9}{16}\right\} &
   \left\{\frac{7}{2},\frac{15}{4},\frac{5}{4},\frac{1}{16}\right\} & 1.34\times 10^{-5} \\
 5 &
   \left\{\frac{11}{2},11,\frac{77}{8},\frac{55}{16},\frac{11}{32
   }\right\} &
   \left\{\frac{9}{2},7,\frac{35}{8},\frac{15}{16},\frac{1}{32}\right\} & 6.05\times 10^{-6} \\
\end{array}
\right)$$
