Equations in dual variables for Whittaker functions (Q1431328)

The author proves that Whittaker functions associated to \(\text{GL}(N)\), using its Mellin-Barnes integral representation satisfy a set of new difference equation, \[ x^{(k)} w(\lambda,q)= (-1)^{k(N- 1)}\exp(q_N+ q_{N-1}+\cdots+ q_{N- k+1}w(\lambda q). \] Finally, it is pointed out that these operators \(x^{(k)}\) are limiting cases of an earlier result [cf. \textit{P. Etingof, O. Schiffmann}, and \textit{A. Varchenko}, Traces of intertwiners for quantum groups and difference equations. II. Quantum Algebra QA/0207157 (2002)].