Orthogonal polynomials represented by CW-spheres (Q1883698)

A partially ordered set \(P\) is graded if it has a unique minimum element \(\widehat 0\), a unique maximal element \(\widehat 1\), and a rank function \(\rho\). A graded poset is Eulerian if every interval \([x,y]\) of positive rank in it satisfies \(\sum_{x\leq z\leq y}(-1)^{\rho(z)}=0\). Given a graded poset \(P\) of rank \(n+1\) and \(S\subseteq \{1,\dots ,n\}\), \(f_S(P)\) denotes the number of saturated chains of the \(S\)-rank selected subposet \(P_S=\{x\in P\mid \rho(x)\in S\}\cup \{\widehat 0,\widehat 1\}\). The vector \((f_S(P)\mid S\subseteq \{1,\dots ,n\})\) is called the flag \(f\)-vector of \(P\). Equivalent encodings of the flag \(f\)-vector include the flag \(h\)-vector \((h_S(P)\mid S\subseteq \{1,\dots ,n\})\), given by \(h_S(P)=\sum_{T\subseteq S} (-1)^{| S-T| }f_T(P)\). For any \(S\subseteq \{1,\dots ,n\}\) define the non-commutative monomial \(u_S=u_1\dots u_n\) by setting \(u_i=b\), if \(i\in S\), and \(u_i=a\), if \(i\notin S\). Then the polynomial \(\Psi_{ab}(P)=\sum_S h_Su_S\) in non-commuting variables \(a\) and \(b\), called the \(ab\)-index of \(P\), is a polynomial of \(c=a+b\) and \(d=ab+ba\). This form of \(\Psi_{ab}(P)\) is called the \(cd\)-index of \(P\). Given a sequence \(\{Q_n(x)\}_{n=0}^\infty\) of symmetric orthogonal polynomials, defined by \(Q_{-1}(x)=0\), \(Q_0(x)=1\), \(Q_1(x)=x\) and a recurrence formula \(Q_n(x)=\nu_n xQ_{n-1}(x)-(\nu_n-1)Q_{n-2}(x)\) for \(n\geq 2\) with integers \(\nu_n\geq 2\), a sequence of nested Eulerian posets is constructed whose \(cd\)-index is a non-commuting generalization of these polynomials. Ttwo new proofs for a bound on the true interval of orthogonality of \(\{Q_n(x)\}_{n=0}^\infty\) are obtained.