Matrix-valued bispectral discrete orthogonal polynomials

Abstract: We develop a unified construction of matrix-valued orthogonal polynomials associated with discrete weights, yielding bispectral sequences as eigenfunctions of second-order difference operators. This general framework extends the discrete families in the classical Askey scheme to the matrix setting by producing explicit matrix analogues of the Krawtchouk, Hahn, Meixner, and Charlier polynomials. In particular, we provide the first matrix extensions of the Krawtchouk and Hahn polynomials, filling a notable gap in the literature. Our results include explicit expressions for the weights, the orthogonal polynomials, and the corresponding difference operators. Furthermore, we establish matrix-valued limit transitions between these families, mirroring the standard relations in the scalar Askey scheme and connecting discrete and continuous cases.