Using \(\mathcal D\)-operators to construct orthogonal polynomials satisfying higher order \(q\)-difference equations (Q481965)

Recently \textit{A. J. Durán} [J. Approx. Theory 174, 10--53 (2013; Zbl 1286.34114)], one of the authors, introduced the concept of \({\mathcal D}\)-operator associated to a sequence of polynomials \((p_n)_n\) and an algebra \({\mathcal A}\) of operators acting in the linear space of polynomials. The purpose of the paper is to show that \({\mathcal D}\)-operators are also a very useful tool to generate \(q\)-Krall polynomials. In the paper, \(q\)-Meixner and \(q\)-Laguerre polynomials, and the algebra \({\mathcal A}_q\) formed by all finite order \(q\)-difference operators \({\mathcal D} : {\mathbb P} \rightarrow {\mathbb P}\) of the form \[ {\mathcal D}(p) = \sum\limits_{j=s}^{r} f_j(s) p(x q^j),\; s, r \in {\mathbb Q}, \; s\leq r, \eqno{(1.1)} \] are considered. Here \(f_j\), \(j=s, \ldots, r\), are rational functions. Using \({\mathcal D}\)-operators, the sequences of numbers \((\beta_n)_n\) for which the polynomials \(q_n(x) =p_n(x) +\beta_n p_{n - 1}(x)\) \((p_1=0)\) are orthogonal with respect to a measure and common eigenfunctions of a higher order \(q\)-difference operator \({\mathcal D}\in {\mathcal A}_q\) are found. In particular, it has been done for \(q\)-Meixner polynomials (in three different ways) and for \(q\)-Laguerre polynomials.