Degenerate Sklyanin algebras, Askey-Wilson polynomials and Heun operators

The $q$-difference equation, the shift and the contiguity relations of the Askey-Wilson polynomials are cast in the framework of the three and four-dimensional degenerate Sklyanin algebras $\mathfrak{ska}_3$ and $\mathfrak{ska}_4$. It is shown that the $q$-para Racah polynomials corresponding to a non-conventional truncation of the Askey-Wilson polynomials form a basis for a finite-dimensional representation of $\mathfrak{ska}_4$. The first order Heun operators defined by a degree raising condition on polynomials are shown to form a five-dimensional vector space that encompasses $\mathfrak{ska}_4$. The most general quadratic expression in the five basis operators and such that it raises degrees by no more than one is identified with the Heun-Askey-Wilson operator.