The Hahn-Exton q-Bessel function as the characteristic function of a Jacobi matrix
A family T(ν), ν ∈ ℝ, of semiinfinite positive Jacobi matrices is introduced with matrix entries taken from the Hahn-Exton q-difference equation. The corresponding matrix operators defined on the linear hull of the canonical basis in ℓ2(ℤ+) are essentially self-adjoint for |ν| ≥ 1 and have deficiency indices (1, 1) for |ν| < 1. A convenient description of all self-adjoint extensions is obtained and the spectral problem is analyzed in detail. The spectrum is discrete and the characteristic equation...