The Rahman Polynomials Are Bispectral

Abstract

In a very recent paper, M. Rahman introduced a remarkable family of polynomials in two variables as the eigenfunctions of the transition matrix for a nontrivial Markov chain due to M. Hoare and M. Rahman. I indicate here that these polynomials are bispectral. This should be just one of the many remarkable properties enjoyed by these polynomials. For several challenges, including finding a general proof of some of the facts displayed here the reader should look at the last section of this paper.