On Domains of PT Symmetric Operators Related to -y''(x) + (-1)^n x^{2n}y(x)

In the recent years a generalization of Hermiticity was investigated using a complex deformation H=p^2 +x^2(ix)^\epsilon of the harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian, where \epsilon is a real parameter. These complex Hamiltonians, possessing PT symmetry (the product of parity and time reversal), can have real spectrum. We will consider the most simple case: \epsilon even. In this paper we describe all self-adjoint (Hermitian) and at the same time PT symmetric operators associated to H=p^2 +x^2(ix)^\epsilon. Surprisingly it turns out that there are a large class of self-adjoint operators associated to H=p^2 +x^2(ix)^\epsilon which are not PT symmetric

Eigenvalue estimates for singular left-definite Sturm-Liouville operators

The spectral properties of a singular left-definite Sturm-Liouville operator $JA$ are investigated and described via the properties of the corresponding right-definite selfadjoint counterpart $A$ which is obtained by substituting the indefinite weight function by its absolute value. The spectrum of the $J$-selfadjoint operator $JA$ is real and it follows that an interval $(a,b)\subset\mathbb R^+$ is a gap in the essential spectrum of $A$ if and only if both intervals $(-b,-a)$ and $(a,b)$ are gaps in the essential spectrum of the $J$-selfadjoint operator $JA$. As one of the main results it is shown that the number of eigenvalues of $JA$ in $(-b,-a) \cup (a,b)$ differs at most by three of the number of eigenvalues of $A$ in the gap $(a,b)$; as a byproduct results on the accumulation of eigenvalues of singular left-definite Sturm-Liouville operators are obtained. Furthermore, left-definite problems with symmetric and periodic coefficients are treated, and several examples are included to illustrate the general results.Comment: to appear in J. Spectral Theor

Analyticity and Riesz basis property of semigroups associated to damped vibrations

Second order equations of the form $z'' + A_0 z + D z'=0$ in an abstract Hilbert space are considered. Such equations are often used as a model for transverse motions of thin beams in the presence of damping. We derive various properties of the operator matrix $A$ associated with the second order problem above. We develop sufficient conditions for analyticity of the associated semigroup and for the existence of a Riesz basis consisting of eigenvectors and associated vectors of $A$ in the phase space

Numerical Range and Quadratic Numerical Range for Damped Systems

We prove new enclosures for the spectrum of non-selfadjoint operator matrices associated with second order linear differential equations $\ddot{z}(t) + D \dot{z} (t) + A_0 z(t) = 0$ in a Hilbert space. Our main tool is the quadratic numerical range for which we establish the spectral inclusion property under weak assumptions on the operators involved; in particular, the damping operator only needs to be accretive and may have the same strength as $A_0$. By means of the quadratic numerical range, we establish tight spectral estimates in terms of the unbounded operator coefficients $A_0$ and $D$ which improve earlier results for sectorial and selfadjoint $D$; in contrast to numerical range bounds, our enclosures may even provide bounded imaginary part of the spectrum or a spectral free vertical strip. An application to small transverse oscillations of a horizontal pipe carrying a steady-state flow of an ideal incompressible fluid illustrates that our new bounds are explicit.Comment: 27 page

Spectral bounds for singular indefinite Sturm-Liouville operators with L1L^1--potentials

The spectrum of the singular indefinite Sturm-Liouville operator $$A=\text{\rm sgn}(\cdot)\bigl(-\tfrac{d^2}{dx^2}+q\bigr)$$ with a real potential $q\in L^1(\mathbb R)$ covers the whole real line and, in addition, non-real eigenvalues may appear if the potential $q$ assumes negative values. A quantitative analysis of the non-real eigenvalues is a challenging problem, and so far only partial results in this direction were obtained. In this paper the bound $$|\lambda|\leq |q|_{L^1}^2$$ on the absolute values of the non-real eigenvalues $\lambda$ of $A$ is obtained. Furthermore, separate bounds on the imaginary parts and absolute values of these eigenvalues are proved in terms of the $L^1$-norm of the negative part of $q$.Comment: to appear in Proc. Amer. Math. So

Variational principles for self-adjoint operator functions arising from second-order systems

Variational principles are proved for self-adjoint operator functions arising from variational evolution equations of the form $$\langle\ddot{z}(t),y \rangle + \mathfrak{d}[\dot{z} (t), y] + \mathfrak{a}_0 [z(t),y] = 0.$$ Here $\mathfrak{a}_0$ and $\mathfrak{d}$ are densely defined, symmetric and positive sesquilinear forms on a Hilbert space $H$. We associate with the variational evolution equation an equivalent Cauchy problem corresponding to a block operator matrix $\mathcal{A}$, the forms $$\mathfrak{t}(\lambda)[x,y] := \lambda^2\langle x,y\rangle + \lambda\mathfrak{d}[x,y] + \mathfrak{a}_0[x,y],$$ where $\lambda\in \mathbb C$ and $x,y$ are in the domain of the form $\mathfrak{a}_0$, and a corresponding operator family $T(\lambda)$. Using form methods we define a generalized Rayleigh functional and characterize the eigenvalues above the essential spectrum of $\mathcal{A}$ by a min-max and a max-min variational principle. The obtained results are illustrated with a damped beam equation.Comment: to appear in Operators and Matrice

Bounds on the non-real spectrum of differential operators with indefinite weights

Ordinary and partial differential operators with an indefinite weight function can be viewed as bounded perturbations of non-negative operators in Krein spaces. Under the assumption that 0 and $\infty$ are not singular critical points of the unperturbed operator it is shown that a bounded additive perturbation leads to an operator whose non-real spectrum is contained in a compact set and with definite type real spectrum outside this set. The main results are quantitative estimates for this set, which are applied to Sturm-Liouville and second order elliptic partial differential operators with indefinite weights on unbounded domains.Comment: 27 page