Orthogonal matrix polynomials whose differences are also orthogonal (Q2636665)

The authors characterize orthogonal matrix polynomials \(P_n\) whose differences \(\nabla P_{n+1}\), defined by \(\nabla P_{n+1}(x)=P_{n+1}(x)-P_{n+1}(x-1)\), are also orthogonal. This characterization is based on the discrete Pearson equation for the weight matrix with respect to which the polynomials are orthogonal. Furthermore, they give some illustrative examples which show that in the theory of matrix orthogonality, the discrete Pearson equation for the weight matrix is independent of whether the orthogonal (matrix) polynomials are eigenfunctions of a second-order difference operator as in the case of the classical discrete (scalar) orthogonal polynomials.