Hahn polynomials explained

In mathematics, the Hahn polynomials are a family of orthogonal polynomials in the Askey scheme of hypergeometric orthogonal polynomials, introduced by Pafnuty Chebyshev in 1875 and rediscovered by Wolfgang Hahn . The Hahn class is a name for special cases of Hahn polynomials, including Hahn polynomials, Meixner polynomials, Krawtchouk polynomials, and Charlier polynomials. Sometimes the Hahn class is taken to include limiting cases of these polynomials, in which case it also includes the classical orthogonal polynomials.

Hahn polynomials are defined in terms of generalized hypergeometric functions by

Q_{n(x;\alpha,\beta,N)=}{}_3F_{2(-n,-x,n+\alpha+\beta+1;\alpha+1,-N+1;1).}

give a detailed list of their properties.

\alpha=\beta=0

, these polynomials are identical to the discrete Chebyshev polynomials except for a scale factor.

Closely related polynomials include the dual Hahn polynomials R_n(x;γ,δ,N), the continuous Hahn polynomials p_n(x,a,b,,), and the continuous dual Hahn polynomials S_n(x;a,b,c). These polynomials all have q-analogs with an extra parameter q, such as the q-Hahn polynomials Q_n(x;α,β, N;q), and so on.

Orthogonality

Q_n(x)Q

m(x)\rho(x)=	1
	\pi_n

\delta_m,n,

Q_n(x)Q_n(y)\pi

n=	1
	\rho(x)

\delta_x,y

where δ_x,y is the Kronecker delta function and the weight functions are

\rho(x)=\rho(x;\alpha;\beta,N)=\binom{\alpha+x}{x}\binom{\beta+N-1-x}{N-1-x}/\binom{N+\alpha+\beta}{N-1}

and

\pi_n=\pi

n(\alpha,\beta,N)=\binom{N-1}{n}	2n+\alpha+\beta+1
	\alpha+\beta+1

	\Gamma(\beta+1,n+\alpha+1,n+\alpha+\beta+1)
	\Gamma(\alpha+1,\alpha+\beta+1,n+\beta+1,n+1)

/\binom{N+\alpha+\beta+n}{n}