Two-variable orthogonal polynomials of big q-Jacobi type

A four-parameter family of orthogonal polynomials in two discrete variables is defined for a weight function of basic hypergeometric type. The polynomials, which are expressed in terms of univariate big q-Jacobi polynomials, form an extension of Dunkl’s bivariate (little) q-Jacobi polynomials [C.F. Dunkl, Orthogonal polynomials in two variables of q-Hahn and q-Jacobi type, SIAM J. Algebr. Discrete Methods 1 (1980) 137-151]. We prove orthogonality property of the new polynomials, and show that they satisfy a three-term relation in a vector-matrix notation, as well as a second-order partial q-difference equation.