Combinatorial interpretation and operator calculus of Lommel polynomials (Q1919675)

Interpretations of orthogonal polynomials in terms of combinatorial models have received a lot of attention in last decade. \textit{S. Dulucq} and \textit{L. Favreau} recently presented a combinatorial model for Bessel polynomials; see [IMACS Ann. Comput. Appl. Math. 9, 243-249 (1991; Zbl 0859.05077 above)] . A general combinatorial theory for orthogonal polynomials has been developed in the work of Viennot, de Médicis and Viennot, and in the theory of species, formalized by Bergeron and others. In the paper under review, the authors present interpretations of Lommel polynomials and their derivatives. A combinatorial interpretation uses matchings in graphs. This gives an interpretation for the derivatives as well. Then Lommel polynomials are considered from the viewpoint of operator calculus. A step-3 nilpotent Lie algebra and finite-difference operators arise in the analysis.