The functions p0,p1,p2,… are generated by the formula
pn(x)=(−1)nx−1/2exdxndn(xn+1/2e−x),0⩽x<∞
(a) Show that pn(x) is a monic polynomial of degree n. Write down the explicit forms of p0(x),p1(x),p2(x).
(b) Demonstrate the orthogonality of these polynomials with respect to the scalar product
⟨f,g⟩=∫0∞x1/2e−xf(x)g(x)dx
i.e. that ⟨pn,pm⟩=0 for m=n, and show that
⟨pn,pn⟩=n!Γ(n+23)
where Γ(y)=∫0∞xy−1e−xdx.
(c) Assuming that a three-term recurrence relation in the form
pn+1(x)=(x−αn)pn(x)−βnpn−1(x),n=1,2,…
holds, find the explicit expressions for αn and βn as functions of n.
[Hint: you may use the fact that Γ(y+1)=yΓ(y).]