\(q\)-ultraspherical polynomials for \(q\) a root of unity (Q1915206)

The algebra \(so_q(3)\) is defined as the associative algebra generated by three elements \(K_j\) \((j=0,1,2)\) subject to the relations \([K_0,K_1]_q =K_2\), \([K_1,K_2]_q= -K_0\) and \([K_2, K_0]_q= -K_1\), where \([A,B]_q= q^{1/2} AB-q^{1/2} BA\). For \(q= \exp (2\pi i/N)\) a root of unity, the authors classify all unitary irreducible finite-dimensional representations of \(so_q (3)\). Then they show how the overlap coefficients between two distinct bases for such a representation satisfy a third order recurrence relation, relating these overlap coefficients to \(q\)-ultraspherical polynomials (for \(q\) root of unity). The algebraic framework allows to calculate the (discrete) weight function. The normalization constants are determined using Darboux transformations. The explicit forms of the orthogonality relation gives rise to nontrivial trigonometric identities, e.g. \[ \sum^{N-2k}_{r=0} s_{r+k} s_{r+1} \cdots s_{r+2k-1} =2^{N-2k} s_{k+1} s_{k+1} \cdots s_{2k-1}/(s_1s_2 \cdots s_{k-1}), \] for \(k=2,3, \dots, \lfloor N/2 \rfloor\), and \(s_j \equiv \sin (j\pi/N)\). These identities can be considered as discrete finite-dimensional analogs of the \(q\)-beta integrals of Ramanujan.