A discrete realization of the higher rank Racah algebra

Abstract

In previous work a higher rank generalization $R(n)$ of the Racah algebra was defined abstractly. The special case of rank one encodes the bispectrality of the univariate Racah polynomials and is known to admit an explicit realization in terms of the operators associated to these polynomials. Starting from the Dunkl model for which we have an action by $R(n)$ on the Dunkl-harmonics, we show that connection coefficients between bases of Dunkl-harmonics diagonalizing certain Abelian subalgebra are multivariate Racah polynomials. By lifting the action of $R(n)$ to the connection coefficients, we identify the action of the Abelian subalgebras with the action of the Racah operators defined by J. S. Geronimo and P. Iliev. Making appropriate changes of basis one can identify each generator of $R(n)$ as a discrete operator acting on the multivariate Racah polynomials.