Extensions of discrete classical orthogonal polynomials beyond the orthogonality

It is well known that the family of Hahn polynomials $\{h_n^{\alpha,\beta}(x;N)\}_{n\ge 0}$ is orthogonal with respect to a certain weight function up to $N$. In this paper we present a factorization for Hahn polynomials for a degree higher than $N$ and we prove that these polynomials can be characterized by a $\Delta$-Sobolev orthogonality. We also present an analogous result for dual-Hahn, Krawtchouk, and Racah polynomials and give the limit relations between them for all n\in \XX N_0. Furthermore, in order to get this results for the Krawtchouk polynomials we will get a more general property of orthogonality for Meixner polynomials.Comment: 2 figures, 20 page

Symmetric coupling of angular momenta, quadratic algebras and discrete polynomials

Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the volume operator, associated with the symmetric coupling of three SU(2) angular momentum operators, can be analyzed on the basis of a discrete Schroedinger-like equation which provides a semiclassical Hamiltonian picture of the evolution of a `quantum of space', as shown by the authors in a recent paper. Emphasis is given here to the formalization in terms of a quadratic symmetry algebra and its automorphism group. This view is related to the Askey scheme, the hierarchical structure which includes all hypergeometric polynomials of one (discrete or continuous) variable. Key tool for this comparative analysis is the duality operation defined on the generators of the quadratic algebra and suitably extended to the various families of overlap functions (generalized recoupling coefficients). These families, recognized as lying at the top level of the Askey scheme, are classified and a few limiting cases are addressed.Comment: 10 pages, talk given at "Physics and Mathematics of Nonlinear Phenomena" (PMNP2013), to appear in J. Phys. Conf. Serie

Wilson function transforms related to Racah coefficients

The irreducible $*$-representations of the Lie algebra $su(1,1)$ consist of discrete series representations, principal unitary series and complementary series. We calculate Racah coefficients for tensor product representations that consist of at least two discrete series representations. We use the explicit expressions for the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients as hypergeometric functions to find explicit expressions for the Racah coefficients. The Racah coefficients are Wilson polynomials and Wilson functions. This leads to natural interpretations of the Wilson function transforms. As an application several sum and integral identities are obtained involving Wilson polynomials and Wilson functions. We also compute Racah coefficients for U_q(\su(1,1)), which turn out to be Askey-Wilson functions and Askey-Wilson polynomials.Comment: 48 page

Cyclic tridiagonal pairs, higher order Onsager algebras and orthogonal polynomials

The concept of cyclic tridiagonal pairs is introduced, and explicit examples are given. For a fairly general class of cyclic tridiagonal pairs with cyclicity N, we associate a pair of `divided polynomials'. The properties of this pair generalize the ones of tridiagonal pairs of Racah type. The algebra generated by the pair of divided polynomials is identified as a higher-order generalization of the Onsager algebra. It can be viewed as a subalgebra of the q-Onsager algebra for a proper specialization at q the primitive 2Nth root of unity. Orthogonal polynomials beyond the Leonard duality are revisited in light of this framework. In particular, certain second-order Dunkl shift operators provide a realization of the divided polynomials at N=2 or q=i.Comment: 32 pages; v2: Appendices improved and extended, e.g. a proof of irreducibility is added; v3: version for Linear Algebra and its Applications, one assumption added in Appendix about eq. (A.2