On Jacobi and continuous Hahn polynomials

Abstract

Jacobi polynomials are mapped onto the continuous Hahn polynomials by the Fourier transform, and the orthogonality relations for the continuous Hahn polynomials then follow from the orthogonality relations for the Jacobi polynomials and the Parseval formula. In a special case this relation dates back to work by Bateman in 1933 and we follow a part of the historical development for these polynomials. Some applications of this relation are given.