Some properties of matrix harmonics on \(S^2\) (Q1296249)

The authors obtain an explicit form for the matrix harmonics \(T_{lm}^{(N)}\) and demonstrate that they define two sets of families of discrete orthogonal polynomials, dual to each other. One of these sets is characterized by 3-term recursion relations which, being represented in a tridiagonal matrix form, are the constituents of a discrete Laplacian. It is also shown that the latter possesses eigenvalues which coincide with the first \(N^2\) eigenvalues of the Laplacian defined on \(S^2\).