Multivariate Askey-Wilson functions and overlap coefficients (Q7302943)

The author studies overlaps coefficients arising in the representation theory of the quantum algebra \(U_q({sl}_2(\mathbb{C}))\). By exploiting structural identities in the associated representation spaces, the overlap coefficients are identified as products of Askey-Wilson functions. This identification provides an algebraic interpretation of the multivariate Askey-Wilson functions originally introduced by \textit{J. S. Geronimo} and \textit{P. Iliev} [Ramanujan J. 24, No. 3, 273--287 (2011; Zbl 1221.33031)]. In particular, the representation-theoretic origin yields a natural viewpoint from which these multivariate objects can be understood as encoding overlaps between suitable basis vectors.\N\NBuilding on this identification, the author employs the coalgebra structure underlying \(U_q({sl}_2)\) to obtain analytic consequences. Specifically, he derives \(q\)-difference equations satisfied by the multivariate Askey-Wilson functions. The \(q\)-difference relations follow systematically from comultiplication properties, thereby linking algebraic operations in the quantum group to functional equations for the multivariate Askey-Wilson system.