On discrete \(q\)-ultraspherical polynomials and their duals (Q2484277)

The big \(q\)-polynomials \(P_n(x; a,b,c;q)\) are known to be orthogonal when the parameters satisfy \(0<a,b<q^{-1}\) and \(c<0\). This paper determines explicit orthogonality relations for the big \(q\)-polynomials as well as for a dual family of polynomials in the case of imaginary values of \(a=b=-c\). Since the polynomials \(P_n(x; q^\alpha,q^\alpha,-q^\alpha;q)\) tend to ultraspherical polynomials as \(q\to 1\) and since the orthogonality measure is discrete, the polynomials \(P_n(x; a,a,-a;q)\) can be considered as discrete \(q\)-ultraspherical polynomials.