Generalized Bochner theorem: Characterization of the Askey-Wilson polynomials (Q2475377)

Consider the following generalization of the Bochner classification for classical orthogonal polynomials [\textit{S. Bochner}, Über Sturm-Liouvillesche Polynomsysteme, Math. Z. 29, 730--736 (1929; JFM 55.0260.01)]: find polynomial solutions for the second order difference equation \[ A(s)P_n(z(s+1))+B(s)P_n(z(s))+C(s)P_n(z(s-1))=\lambda_n P_n(z(s)),\;n=0,1,\ldots,N,\tag \(*\) \] where \(z(s),A(s),B(s),C(s)\) are functions of the discrete argument \(s\) and \(N\) may be either finite of infinite. For all admissable values of \(s\), the irreducibility condition \(A(s-1)C(s)\not=0\) is assumed. If \(N=\infty\), assume that the grid \(z(s)\) has infinitely many different values for different values of \(s\); moreover, always assume that the problem is non-degenerate: \[ n\not= m\Rightarrow \lambda_n\not= \lambda_m. \] \textit{R. Askey} and \textit{J. Wilson} [Mem. Am. Math. Soc. 54 (319), 1--55 (1985; Zbl 0572.33012)] found the Askey-Wilson polynomials (AWP) for the quadratic grid \(z(s)=as^2+bs+c\) (AW-grid) and the \(q\)-quadratic grid \(z(s)= aq^s+bq^{-s}+c\;(| q| \not= 1)\); the finite dimensional case corresponds to the \(q\)-Racah polynomials. \textit{F. A. Grünbaum} and \textit{L. Haine} [J. Comput. Appl. Math. 68, 103--114 (1996; Zbl 0865.33012)] showed that the orthogonal polynomials satisfying \((*)\) for the AW-grid are the AWP and \textit{D. A. Leonard} [SIAM J. Math. Anal 13, 656--663 (1982; Zbl 0495.33006)] showed that for finite \(N\) the only polynomial solutions are the \(q\)-Racah polynomials. Finally, \textit{M. E. H. Ismail} [J. Comput. Appl. Math. 195, 319--324 (2003; Zbl 1043.33009)] showed that all polynomial solutions for the AW-grid are in fact AWP (i.e. orthogonal) and \textit{P. Terwilliger} [Linear Algebra Appl. 330 (1--3), 149--203 (2001; Zbl 0980.05054) and J. Comput. Appl. Math. 178, 437--452 (2005; Zbl 1069.15005)] found the same for \(N\) finite. That left the open problem: characterize for \(N=\infty\) all possible grids \(z(s)\) for which polynomials are obtained as solutions of \((*)\). This problem is solved here and the authors show that, no matter what value \(N\) takes, all polynomial solutions of \((*)\) should be (orthogonal) AWP.