Contiguous relations, basic hypergeometric functions, and orthogonal polynomials. III: Associated continuous dual \(q\)-Hahn polynomials (Q1919446)

[For part I see the authors in J. Anal. Appl. 171, No. 2, 477-497 (1992; Zbl 0766.33016).] In a series of important papers, the authors solve recurrence relations satisfied by orthogonal polynomials. In this extremely interesting paper the authors start with the recurrence \[ X_{n+1}-(z-a_n)X_n+b_n^2X_{n-1}=0 \] where \[ \begin{aligned} a_n &= \left({1\over A}+{1\over B}+{1\over C}+{1\over D}\right)q^n -(1+q)q^{2n-1}\\ b_n^2 &= {q\over ABCD}(1-Aq^{n-1})(1-Bq^{n-1})(1-Cq^{n-1})(1-Dq^{n-1})\end{aligned} \] which is satisfied by the associated continuous dual \(q\)--Hahn polynomials with parameters \(A, B, C\) and \(D\). By finding explicit solutions to this recurrence and identify its minimal solution they obtain explicit expressions for the value of the related continued fraction and for the absolutely continuous component of the spectral measure. Eleven limiting cases are discussed, such as 1) \(D\to\infty\): Associated big \(q\)-Laguerre polynomials 2) \(C\to\infty\) in 1): Associated Wall polynomials 3) \(D:=\delta C\), replace \(zC\) by \(z\), renormalize and let \(C\to 0\): Associated Al-Salam--Chihara polynomials 4) \(B\to\infty\) in 3): Associated Al-Salam-Carlitz I.