Using \(\mathcal D\)-operators to construct orthogonal polynomials satisfying higher order difference or differential equations (Q390620)

Given the sequence \(\{p_n\}_{n\geq0}\) of the polynomial eigenfunctions of a finite order difference (or differential) operator with polynomial coefficients \(D_p\), \(D_p(p_n)=\theta_np_n\), \(n\geq0\), the author provides a tool resembling the machinery of the Darboux transformations to generate sequences \(\{q_n\}_{n\geq0}\) of the polynomial eigenfunctions to some others finite order difference (or differential) operators with polynomial coefficients \(D_q=P_1(D_p)+{\mathcal D}P_2(D_p)\). The polynomial \(P_2\) such that \(\gamma_{n+1}=P_2(\theta_n)\neq0\), \(n\geq0\), is arbitrary. Defining \(\{\lambda_n\}_{n\geq0}\) using the recurrence \(\lambda_n=\lambda_{n-1}+\gamma_n\), \(n\geq1\), the polynomial \(P_1\) must satisfy \(\lambda_n=P_1(\theta_n)\). The remaining ingredients are the operator \({\mathcal D}\) associated to the algebra of the finite order difference (or differential) operators which is a series in positive powers of the operator \(\zeta\), \(\zeta(p_n)=\varepsilon_np_{n-1}\), and the numbers \(\beta_n=\varepsilon_n\frac{P_2(\theta_n)}{ P_2(\theta_{n-1})}\). Under above conditions, defining \(q_n=p_n+\beta_np_{n-1}\), he proves that \(D_q(q_n)=\lambda_nq_n\). Furthermore, for an appropriate choice of the sequence \(\{p_n\}_{n\geq0}\) and the polynomial \(P_2\), the new sequence \(\{q_n\}_{n\geq0}\) becomes orthogonal with respect to a measure. The author's concept is illustrated using the classical discrete families of Charlier, Meixner, Krawtchuk and Hahn orthogonal polynomials as the seed families. In three former cases, the polynomials \(P_1\) and \(P_2\) are expressed in terms of the polynomials of the respective Charlier, Meixner and Krawtchuk families while in the latter (Hahn) case, \(P_1\) and \(P_2\) are expressed in terms of the dual Hahn polynomials. In all these cases, the author also identifies the moment functionals and the measures with respect to which the new polynomial sequences are orthogonal. He also applies the same approach to the classical Laguerre and Jacobi polynomials.