Quasi-exactly solvable problems and the dual (q-)Hahn polynomials

A second-order differential (q-difference) eigenvalue equation is constructed whose solutions are generating functions of the dual (q-)Hahn polynomials. The fact is noticed that these generating functions are reduced to the (little q-)Jacobi polynomials, and implications of this for quasi-exactly solvable problems are studied. A connection with the Azbel-Hofstadter problem is indicated.Comment: 15 pages, LaTex; final version, presentation improved, title changed, to appear in J.Math.Phy

An SU(2) Analog of the Azbel--Hofstadter Hamiltonian

Motivated by recent findings due to Wiegmann and Zabrodin, Faddeev and Kashaev concerning the appearence of the quantum U_q(sl(2)) symmetry in the problem of a Bloch electron on a two-dimensional magnetic lattice, we introduce a modification of the tight binding Azbel--Hofstadter Hamiltonian that is a specific spin-S Euler top and can be considered as its ``classical'' analog. The eigenvalue problem for the proposed model, in the coherent state representation, is described by the S-gap Lam\'e equation and, thus, is completely solvable. We observe a striking similarity between the shapes of the spectra of the two models for various values of the spin S.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX, 4 PostScript figures. Relation between Cartan and Cartesian deformation of SU(2) and numerical results added. Final version as will appear in J. Phys. A: Math. Ge