On Second Order q-Difference Equations Satisfied by Al-Salam–Carlitz I-Sobolev Type Polynomials of Higher Order

This contribution deals with the sequence {Un(a)(x;q,j)}n≥0 of monic polynomials in x, orthogonal with respect to a Sobolev-type inner product related to the Al-Salam–Carlitz I orthogonal polynomials, and involving an arbitrary number j of q-derivatives on the two boundaries of the corresponding orthogonality interval, for some fixed real number q∈(0,1). We provide several versions of the corresponding connection formulas, ladder operators, and several versions of the second order q-difference equations satisfied by polynomials in this sequence. As a novel contribution to the literature, we provide certain three term recurrence formula with rational coefficients satisfied by Un(a)(x;q,j), which paves the way to establish an appealing generalization of the so-called J-fractions to the framework of Sobolev-type orthogonality.