Let { $\{ S_n\}_{ n\geqslant 0}$} be the sequence of orthogonal polynomials with respect to the Laguerre-Sobolev inner product $$ \langle f,g\rangle_S =\!\int_{ 0}^{ +\infty}\! f(x) g(x)x^{ \alpha}e^{ -x}dx+\sum_{ j=1}^{ N}\sum_{ k=0}^{ d_j}\lambda_{ j,k} f^{ (k)}(c_j)g^{ (k)}(c_j), $$ where $\lambda_{ j,k}\geqslant 0$, $\alpha >-1$ and $c_i \in (-\infty, 0)$ for $i=1,2,\dots,N$. We provide a formula that relates the Laguerre-Sobolev polynomials $S_n$ to the standard Laguerre orthogonal polynomials. We find the ladder operators for the polynomial sequence $\{ S_n\}_{ n\geqslant 0}$ and a second-order differential equation with polynomial coefficients for $\{ S_n\}_{ n\geqslant 0}$. We establish a sufficient condition for an electrostatic model of the zeros of orthogonal Laguerre-Sobolev polynomials. Some examples are given where this condition is either satisfied or not.
Categories: math.CA math.CV