A combinatorial formula for the linearization coefficients of general Sheffer polynomials (Q5937425)

The problem of finding formulas for the linearization coefficients of the classical polynomials have attracted much attention during the last three decades. In this paper, the authors prove a formula for the linearization coefficients of the general Sheffer polynomials, which unifies all the special known results for Hermite, Charlier, Laguerre, Meixner and Meixner-Pollaczek polynomials. They also prove a new and explicit real version of the corresponding formula for Meixner-Pollaczek polynomials. Further, they set up a preliminary combinatorial model, called \(L\)-graphs, for the linearization coefficients of Sheffer polynomials. A weight-preserving and sign-reversing involution on the \(L\)-graphs has been constructed.