On a pair of difference equations for the ₄F₃ type orthogonal polynomials and related exactly-solvable quantum systems

We introduce a pair of novel difference equations, whose solutions are expressed in terms of Racah or Wilson polynomials depending on the nature of the finite-difference step. A number of special cases and limit relations are also examined, which allow to introduce similar difference equations for the orthogonal polynomials of the $ _3 F_2$ and $ _2 F_1$ types. It is shown that the introduced equations allow to construct new models of exactly-solvable quantum dynamical systems, such as spin chains with a nearest-neighbour interaction and fermionic quantum oscillator models.