Degenerate weighted Stirling numbers (Q1084430)

The author defines generalized weighted Stirling numbers of the first and second kinds, \(S_1(n,k, \lambda\mid \theta)\) and \(S(n,k,\lambda\mid \theta)\), with two continuous parameters \(\lambda\) and \(\theta\) in addition to the two integer parameters \(n\) and \(k\) of the ordinary Stirling numbers. These simultaneously generalize the degenerate Stirling numbers (for which \(\lambda = 0)\) and the weighted Stirling numbers (for which \(\theta = 0)\), both introduced by L. Carlitz. At this level of generalization there is a functional equation \[ (-\theta)^k S_1(n,k,\theta -\theta \lambda\mid \theta) = (-\theta)^n S(n,k,\lambda\mid \theta^{-1}) \] connecting the two kinds of Stirling numbers. Three-term recurrence relations with \(\lambda\) and \(\theta\) are found, generalizing the standard recurrences for ordinary Stirling numbers (which have \(\lambda = \theta = 0)\), and a simple combinatorial interpretation of \(S_1(n,k,\lambda\mid \theta)\), for integral \(\lambda\) and \(\theta\), is given. Also weighted potential and Bell polynomials are defined and relations between them used to express the Stirling numbers of each kind with parameters \(\lambda\), \(\theta\) as linear combinations of numbers of the other kind with parameters \(1-\lambda\), \(\theta\) (and also of degenerate weighted associated Stirling numbers).