Some new results for Charlier and Meixner polynomials (Q1392782)

In [J. Phys. A, Math. Gen. 29, No. 11, L277--L279 (1996; Zbl 0897.33006] \textit{H. Bavninck} proved the following interesting formula involving Laguerre polynomials: \[ \sum_{k=j}^ik^sL_{i-k}^{(-\alpha-i-1)}(-x)L_{k-j}^{(\alpha+j)}(x) =(-x)^s\delta_{i,2s+j},\quad i,j,s\in\{0,1,2,\ldots\}, \] provided that \(i\geq 2s+j\). This formula has several applications in the study of differential operators with generalizations of the Laguerre polynomials as eigenfunctions. For \(s=0\) for instance this formula reduces to an inversion formula which can be used to find explicit formulas for the coefficients of such differential operators. In the paper under review the author proves similar results for Charlier and Meixner polynomials. These cases are somewhat more complicated than that of the Laguerre polynomials. The formulas can be used to simplify the calculations of the coefficients of difference operators with generalizations of the Charlier and the Meixner polynomials as eigenfunctions. See for instance \textit{H. Bavninck} [Generalizations of Meixner polynomials which are eigenfunctions of a difference operator, J. Differ. Equations Appl. (to appear)] for an application of the resulting formula for Meixner polynomials.