Some orthogonal polynomials related to elliptic functions

Abstract

We characterize the orthogonal polynomials in a class of polynomials defined through their generating functions. This led to three new systems of orthogonal polynomials whose generating functions and orthogonality relations involve elliptic functions. The Hamburger moment problems associated with these polynomials are indeterminate. We give infinite families of weight functions in each case. The different polynomials treated in this work are also polynomials in a parameter and as functions of this parameter they are orthogonal with respect to unique measures, which we find explicitly. Through a quadratic transformation we find a new exactly solvable birth and death process with quartic birth and death rates. © 2001 Academic Press.