Time decay estimates for the wave equation with potential in dimension two

We study the wave equation with potential $u_{tt}-\Delta u+Vu=0$ in two spatial dimensions, with $V$ a real-valued, decaying potential. With $H=-\Delta+V$, we study a variety of mapping estimates of the solution operators, $\cos(t\sqrt{H})$ and $\frac{\sin(t\sqrt{H})}{\sqrt{H}}$ under the assumption that zero is a regular point of the spectrum of $H$. We prove a dispersive estimate with a time decay rate of $|t|^{-\frac{1}{2}}$, a polynomially weighted dispersive estimate which attains a faster decay rate of $|t|^{-1}(\log |t|)^{-2}$ for $|t|>2$. Finally, we prove dispersive estimates if zero is not a regular point of the spectrum of $H$.Comment: Made changes according to referee suggestions and fixed typos to improve the exposition. Added more detail to the sections discussing the weighted dispersive bound and the bounds when zero is not regula

Do We Live In An Intelligent Universe?

This essay hypothesizes that the Universe contains a self-reproducing neural network of Black Holes with computational abilities—i.e., the Universe can “think”! It then rephrases the Final Anthropic Principle to state: “Intelligent information-processing must come into existence in each new Universe to assure the birth of intelligent successor universes”. Continued research into the theory of Early Universe and Black Hole information storage, processing and retrieval is recommended, as are observational searches for time-correlated electromagnetic and gravitational wave emission patterns from widely separated Black Hole transient events indicative of the existence of a universal inter-Black Hole faster-than-light communications network

Viewpoint: competitiveness and the community college

Bill Green is living proof that community colleges can lead to a great career. In this “Viewpoint,” he makes the case that they also can help U.S. business maintain its competitive edge while improving the economic resilience of local communities.Community colleges

Dispersive Estimates for higher dimensional Schr\"odinger Operators with threshold eigenvalues II: The even dimensional case

We investigate $L^1(\mathbb R^n)\to L^\infty(\mathbb R^n)$ dispersive estimates for the Schr\"odinger operator $H=-\Delta+V$ when there is an eigenvalue at zero energy in even dimensions $n\geq 6$. In particular, we show that if there is an eigenvalue at zero energy then there is a time dependent, rank one operator $F_t$ satisfying $\|F_t\|_{L^1\to L^\infty} \lesssim |t|^{2-\frac{n}{2}}$ for $|t|>1$ such that $$\|e^{itH}P_{ac}-F_t\|_{L^1\to L^\infty} \lesssim |t|^{1-\frac{n}{2}},\,\,\,\,\,\text{ for } |t|>1.$$ With stronger decay conditions on the potential it is possible to generate an operator-valued expansion for the evolution, taking the form \begin{align*} e^{itH} P_{ac}(H)=|t|^{2-\frac{n}{2}}A_{-2}+ |t|^{1-\frac{n}{2}} A_{-1}+|t|^{-\frac{n}{2}}A_0, \end{align*} with $A_{-2}$ and $A_{-1}$ mapping $L^1(\mathbb R^n)$ to $L^\infty(\mathbb R^n)$ while $A_0$ maps weighted $L^1$ spaces to weighted $L^\infty$ spaces. The leading-order terms $A_{-2}$ and $A_{-1}$ are both finite rank, and vanish when certain orthogonality conditions between the potential $V$ and the zero energy eigenfunctions are satisfied. We show that under the same orthogonality conditions, the remaining $|t|^{-\frac{n}{2}}A_0$ term also exists as a map from $L^1(\mathbb R^n)$ to $L^\infty(\mathbb R^n)$, hence $e^{itH}P_{ac}(H)$ satisfies the same dispersive bounds as the free evolution despite the eigenvalue at zero.Comment: This article continues the work of "Dispersive Estimates for higher dimensional Schr\"odinger Operators with threshold eigenvalues I: The odd dimensional case" by the authors to the case of even dimensions. To appear in J. Spectr. Theor

On the Fourth order Schr\"odinger equation in four dimensions: dispersive estimates and zero energy resonances

We study the fourth order Schr\"odinger operator $H=(-\Delta)^2+V$ for a decaying potential $V$ in four dimensions. In particular, we show that the $t^{-1}$ decay rate holds in the $L^1\to L^\infty$ setting if zero energy is regular. Furthermore, if the threshold energies are regular then a faster decay rate of $t^{-1}(\log t)^{-2}$ is attained for large $t$, at the cost of logarithmic spatial weights. Zero is not regular for the free equation, hence the free evolution does not satisfy this bound due to the presence of a resonance at the zero energy. We provide a full classification of the different types of zero energy resonances and study the effect of each type on the time decay in the dispersive bounds.Comment: Revised according to referee suggestions. To appear in J. Differential Equation

Dispersive Estimates for higher dimensional Schr\"odinger Operators with threshold eigenvalues I: The odd dimensional case

We investigate $L^1(\mathbb R^n)\to L^\infty(\mathbb R^n)$ dispersive estimates for the Schr\"odinger operator $H=-\Delta+V$ when there is an eigenvalue at zero energy and $n\geq 5$ is odd. In particular, we show that if there is an eigenvalue at zero energy then there is a time dependent, rank one operator $F_t$ satisfying $\|F_t\|_{L^1\to L^\infty} \lesssim |t|^{2-\frac{n}{2}}$ for $|t|>1$ such that $$\|e^{itH}P_{ac}-F_t\|_{L^1\to L^\infty} \lesssim |t|^{1-\frac{n}{2}},\qquad\textrm{ for } |t|>1.$$ With stronger decay conditions on the potential it is possible to generate an operator-valued expansion for the evolution, taking the form $$e^{itH} P_{ac}(H)=|t|^{2-\frac{n}{2}}A_{-2}+ |t|^{1-\frac{n}{2}} A_{-1}+|t|^{-\frac{n}{2}}A_0,$$ with $A_{-2}$ and $A_{-1}$ finite rank operators mapping $L^1(\mathbb R^n)$ to $L^\infty(\mathbb R^n)$ while $A_0$ maps weighted $L^1$ spaces to weighted $L^\infty$ spaces. The leading order terms $A_{-2}$ and $A_{-1}$ vanish when certain orthogonality conditions between the potential $V$ and the zero energy eigenfunctions are satisfied. We show that under the same orthogonality conditions, the remaining $|t|^{-\frac{n}{2}}A_0$ term also exists as a map from $L^1(\mathbb R^n)$ to $L^\infty(\mathbb R^n)$, hence $e^{itH}P_{ac}(H)$ satisfies the same dispersive bounds as the free evolution despite the eigenvalue at zero.Comment: To appear in J. Funct. Ana