Generalized higher-order Freud weights

We discuss polynomials orthogonal with respect to a semi-classical generalized higher-order Freud weight omega(x; t, lambda) = vertical bar x vertical bar(2 lambda+1) exp(tx(2) - x(2m)), x is an element of R, with parameters lambda > -1, t is an element of R and m = 2, 3,.... The sequence of generalized higher-order Freud weights for m = 2, 3,..., forms a hierarchy of weights, with associated hierarchies for the first moment and the recurrence coefficient. We prove that the first moment can be written as a finite partition sum of generalized hypergeometric F-1(m) functions and show that the recurrence coefficients satisfy difference equations which are members of the first discrete Painleve hierarchy. We analyse the asymptotic behaviour of the recurrence coefficients and the limiting distribution of the zeros as n -> infinity. We also investigate structure and other mixed recurrence relations satisfied by the polynomials and related properties.