A formula of Hilb's type for orthogonal polynomials (Q1318430)

Let \((P_ n^{(\alpha)})_{n\in\mathbb{N}_ 0}\) be the ultraspherical polynomials normalized by \(P_ n^{(\alpha)}(1)=1\) for some fixed index \(\alpha\). Let \((P_ n)_{n\in\mathbb{N}_ 0}\) be a further sequence of orthogonal polynomials satisfying a three-term-recurrence relation which is equal to that of the \(P_ n^{(\alpha)}\) up to a small perturbation. This paper gives estimations for \(| P_ n(\cos\theta)-P_ n^{(\alpha)}(\cos\theta)|\) for small \(\theta\) and large \(n\). The classical formula of Hilb's type for ultraspherical polynomials thus leads to a Hilb-type formula for the polynomials \(P_ n\). This formula can be used to derive central limit theorems for certain random walks on \(\mathbb{N}_ 0\); see the author [Adv. Appl. Probab. 22, No. 1, 68-87 (1990; Zbl 0719.60009)] and \textit{H. Zeuner} [J. Theoret. Probab. 7, 225-245 (1994)].