The \(D_ \omega\)-classical orthogonal polynomials (Q1377193)

The authors consider so-called \(D_{\omega}\)-classical (discrete) orthogonal polynomials that satisfy Hahn's property: \vskip 0.2cm \centerline{if \(\{P_n\}_{n\geq 0}\) is orthogonal, then so is \(\{D_{\omega}P_{n+1}\}_{n\geq 0}\).} \vskip 0.2cm The operator is defined by \[ (D_{\omega}f)(x):={f(x+\omega)-f(x)\over\omega}. \] After proving that a sequence of polynomials \(\{P_n\}\) being \(D_{\omega}\)-classical orthogonal is equivalent to the existence of a monic polynomial \(\Phi\) of degree \(\leq 2\), a polynomial \(\psi\) of degree \(1\) and a sequence of numbers \(\lambda_n\not= 0\) with \[ \Phi(x)(D_{\omega}\circ D_{-\omega}P_{n+1})(x)-\psi (x)(D_{-\omega}P_{n+1})(x)+\lambda_n P_{n+1}(x)=0\quad (n\geq 0) \] (a Pearson type relation is also satisfied by \(\Phi\) and \(\psi\)), the authors turn to a complete characterisation of all possibilities in the case of so-called admissable pairs \((\Phi, \psi)\). This leads to a relation of the form \[ \Phi(x)P_n^{[1]}(x;\omega)=\sum_{\nu=n}^{n+t} \lambda_{n,\nu}P_{\nu}(x)\;(n\geq 0). \] Here \(\lambda_{n,n}\not= 0\;(n\geq 1)\) and \[ P_n^{[1]}(x;\omega)={1 \over n+1}(D_{\omega}P_{n+1})(x). \] They find for \(\omega\not= 0\) the Charlier-, Meixner-, Meixner-Pollaczek and continuous Hahn polynomials. For \(\omega=0\) the classical systems of Hermite, Laguerre, Bessel and Jacobi are found.