N ov 2 00 9 The multicomponent 2 D Toda hierarchy : generalized matrix orthogonal polynomials , multiple orthogonal polynomials and Riemann – Hilbert problems

We consider the relation of the multi-component 2D Toda hierarchy with matrix orthogonal and biorthogonal polynomials. The multi-graded Hänkel reduction of this hierarchy is considered and the corresponding generalized matrix orthogonal polynomials are studied. In particular for these polynomials we consider the recursion relations, and for rank one weights its relation with multiple orthogonal polynomials of mixed type with a type II normalization and the corresponding link with a Riemann–Hilbert problem.