Matrix-valued polynomials generated by the scalar-type Rodrigues' formulas (Q1048985)

The properties of matrix-valued (\(\mathcal M\)-valued) polynomials generated by Rodrigues' formula \(P_n(x)= W(x)^{-1}d^n/dx^n[Q(x)^nW(x)]\) are analyzed, where \(W(x)\) is an \(\mathcal M\)-valued function satisfying the Pearson equation \(Q(x)W(x)^{-1}W'(x)=xL_1+ L_2\), \(L_1,L_2\in\mathcal M\), and \(Q(x)=\sigma x^2+\tau x+\delta\) (\(L_1+k\sigma\) is invertible in \(\mathcal M\) for \(k\in\mathbb N\)). A general representation of these polynomials in terms of products of simple differential operators is found. The recurrence relation \(xP_n(x)=P_{n+1}(x)\alpha_n +P_{n}(x) \beta_n+P_{n-1}(x)\gamma_n\) (\(\alpha_n,\beta_n,\gamma_n\in\mathcal M\) are uniquely determined), the leading coefficients of \(P_n(x)\), and completeness are established. Moreover, in the commutative case (if \(L_1\) and \(L_2\) commute) the ladder relation \(\mathcal L_nP_{n}(x)= g_nP_{n-1}(x)\) is proved, where the first order linear differential operator \(\mathcal L_n\) has the form \(\mathcal L_n= Ax+B+CQ(x)\partial_x\) and \(g_n\) is a constant is proved. Commutative classes of orthogonal polynomials, corresponding to the weight \(W(x)\), which is self-adjoint but not positive semidefinite, are found. They satisfy the general properties usually associated with orthogonal polynomials, and are not of scalar type.