On \(q\)-deformations of the Heun equation (Q723903)

Rigid (complex, analytic, linear) differential equations are those which are determined, up to equivalence, by their local monodromies (or more general similar data in the case of irregular equations). The simplest non-rigid equations are Heun equations, which admit \(1\)-parameter isomonodromic deformations. The present paper is devoted to deformations of their \(q\)-analogues, the so-called \(q\)-Heun equations (discovered by \textit{W. Hahn} [Funkc. Ekvacioj, Ser. Int. 14, 73--78 (1971; Zbl 0234.39004)]). A singularity analysis is provided. The paper also deals with their relation with Ruijsenaars-van Diejen operators, and quasi-exact solutions (i.e., finite-dimensional invariant subspaces of the associated operators).