Askey–Wilson polynomials

In mathematics, the Askey–Wilson polynomials (or q-Wilson polynomials) are a family of orthogonal polynomials introduced by Richard Askey and James A. Wilson as q-analogs of the Wilson polynomials. They include many of the other orthogonal polynomials in 1 variable as special or limiting cases, described in the Askey scheme. Askey–Wilson polynomials are the special case of Macdonald polynomials (or Koornwinder polynomials) for the non-reduced affine root system of type ($C&or; 1, C_{1}$), and their 4 parameters $a$, $b$, $c$, $d$ correspond to the 4 orbits of roots of this root system.

They are defined by


 * $$p_n(x) =

p_n(x;a,b,c,d\mid q) := a^{-n}(ab,ac,ad;q)_n\;_{4}\phi_3 \left[\begin{matrix} q^{-n}&abcdq^{n-1}&ae^{i\theta}&ae^{-i\theta} \\ ab&ac&ad \end{matrix}
 * q,q \right] $$

where $φ$ is a basic hypergeometric function, $x = cos &theta;$, and $_{n}$ is the q-Pochhammer symbol. Askey–Wilson functions are a generalization to non-integral values of $n$.

Proof
This result can be proven since it is known that


 * $$p_n(\cos{\theta}) = p_n(\cos{\theta};a,b,c,d\mid q)$$

and using the definition of the q-Pochhammer symbol


 * $$p_n(\cos{\theta})=

a^{-n}\sum_{\ell=0}^{n}q^{\ell}\left(abq^{\ell},acq^{\ell},adq^{\ell};q\right)_{n-\ell}\times\frac{\left(q^{-n},abcdq^{n-1};q\right)_{\ell}}{(q;q)_{\ell}}\prod_{j=0}^{\ell-1}\left(1-2aq^j\cos{\theta}+a^2q^{2j}\right)$$

which leads to the conclusion that it equals


 * $$a^{-n}(ab,ac,ad;q)_n\;_{4}\phi_3 \left[\begin{matrix}

q^{-n}&abcdq^{n-1}&ae^{i\theta}&ae^{-i\theta} \\ ab&ac&ad \end{matrix}
 * q,q \right] $$