We show that the coefficients of the three-term recurrence relation for orthogonal polynomials with respect to a semi-classical extension of the Laguerre weight satisfy the fourth Painlevé equation when viewed as functions of one of the parameters in the weight. We compare different approaches to derive this result, namely, the ladder operators approach, the isomonodromy deformations approach and combining the Toda system for the recurrence coefficients with a discrete equation. We also discuss a relation between the recurrence coefficients for the Freud weight and the semi-classical Laguerre weight and show how it arises from the Bäcklund transformation of the fourth Painlevé equation.

We consider a semi-classical version of the Meixner weight depending on two parameters and the associated set of orthogonal polynomials. These polynomials satisfy a three-term recurrence relation. We show that the coefficients appearing in this relation satisfy a discrete Painlevé equation, which is a limiting case of an asymmetric dPIV equation. Moreover, when viewed as functions of one of the parameters, they satisfy one of Chazy's second-degree Painlevé equations, which can be reduced to the fifth Painlevé equation PV.

Over the last decade it has become clear that discrete Painlevé equations appear in a wide range of important mathematical and physical problems. Thus, the question of recognizing a given non-autonomous recurrence as a discrete Painlevé equation and determining its type according to Sakai's classification scheme, understanding whether it is equivalent to some known (model) example, and especially finding an explicit change of coordinates transforming it to such an example, becomes one of the central ones. Fortunately, Sakai's geometric theory provides an almost algorithmic procedure for answering this question. In this paper we illustrate this procedure by studying an example coming from the theory of discrete orthogonal polynomials. There are many connections between orthogonal polynomials and Painlevé equations, both differential and discrete. In particular, often the coefficients of three-term recurrence relations for discrete orthogonal polynomials can be expressed in terms of solutions of discrete Painlevé equations. In this work we study discrete orthogonal polynomials with general hypergeometric weight and show that their recurrence coefficients satisfy, after some change of variables, the standard discrete Painlevé-V equation. We also provide an explicit change of variables transforming this equation to the standard form.

In this paper two families of rational solutions and associated special polynomials for the equations in the symmetric fourth Painlevé hierarchy are studied. The structure of the roots of these polynomials is shown to be highly regular in the complex plane. Further representations are given of the associated special polynomials in terms of Schur functions. The properties of these polynomials are compared and contrasted with the special polynomials associated with rational solutions of the fourth Painlevé equation.