Generalized coherent pairs (Q5927581)

A pair of quasi-definite moment functionals \(\{u_0,u_1\}\) is a generalized coherent pair if monic orthogonal polynomials \(\{P_n (x) \}^\infty_{n=0}\) and \(\{R_n(x)\}^\infty_{n=0}\) relative to \(u_0\) and \(u_1\) respectively, satisfy a relation \[ R_n(x)= {1\over n+1} P_{n+1}'(x)-{\sigma_n \over n} P_n'(x)-{\tau_{n-1} \over n-1}P_{n-1}'(x), \quad n\geq 2, \] where \(\sigma_n\) and \(\tau_n\) are arbitrary constants, which may be zero. If \(\{u_0, u_1\}\) is a generalized coherent pair, then \(u_0\) and \(u_1\) must be semiclassical. In this paper the authors find conditions under which either \(u_0\) or \(u_1\) is classical. In such a case, they also determine the types of the ``companion'' moment functionals. Also some illustrative examples and two ways of generating generalized coherent pairs are given. The corresponding Sobolev orthogonal polynomials are also discussed.