Orthogonal Polynomial Solutions of Spectral Type Differential Equations: Magnus' Conjecture

Let τ=σ+ν be a point mass perturbation of a classical moment functional σ by a distribution ν with finite support. We find necessary conditions for the polynomials {Q_n(x)}^∞_n=0, orthogonal relative to τ, to be a Bochner–Krall orthogonal polynomial system (BKOPS); that is, {Q_n(x)}^∞_n=0 are eigenfunctions of a finite order linear differential operator of spectral type with polynomial coefficients: L_N[y](x)=∑^N_i=1 ℓ_i(x) y⁽ⁱ⁾(x)=λ_ny(x). In particular, when ν is of order 0 as a distribution, we find necessary and sufficient conditions for {Q_n(x)}^∞_n=0 to be a BKOPS, which strongly support and clarify Magnus' conjecture which states that any BKOPS must be orthogonal relative to a classical moment functional plus one or two point masses at the end point(s) of the interval of orthogonality. This result explains not only why the Bessel-type orthogonal polynomials (found by Hendriksen) cannot be a BKOPS but also explains the phenomena for infinite-order differential equations (found by J. Koekoek and R. Koekoek), which have the generalized Jacobi polynomials and the generalized Laguerre polynomials as eigenfunctions.