Inequalities for means of chords, with application to isoperimetric problems

We consider a pair of isoperimetric problems arising in physics. The first concerns a Schr\"odinger operator in $L^2(\mathbb{R}^2)$ with an attractive interaction supported on a closed curve $\Gamma$, formally given by $-\Delta-\alpha \delta(x-\Gamma)$; we ask which curve of a given length maximizes the ground state energy. In the second problem we have a loop-shaped thread $\Gamma$ in $\mathbb{R}^3$, homogeneously charged but not conducting, and we ask about the (renormalized) potential-energy minimizer. Both problems reduce to purely geometric questions about inequalities for mean values of chords of $\Gamma$. We prove an isoperimetric theorem for $p$-means of chords of curves when $p \leq 2$, which implies in particular that the global extrema for the physical problems are always attained when $\Gamma$ is a circle. The article finishes with a discussion of the $p$--means of chords when $p > 2$.Comment: LaTeX2e, 11 page

On the critical exponent in an isoperimetric inequality for chords

The problem of maximizing the $L^p$ norms of chords connecting points on a closed curve separated by arclength $u$ arises in electrostatic and quantum--mechanical problems. It is known that among all closed curves of fixed length, the unique maximizing shape is the circle for $1 \le p \le 2$, but this is not the case for sufficiently large values of $p$. Here we determine the critical value $p_c(u)$ of $p$ above which the circle is not a local maximizer finding, in particular, that $p_c(\frac12 L)=\frac52$. This corrects a claim made in \cite{EHL}.Comment: LaTeX, 12 pages, with 1 eps figur

Scattering by local deformations of a straight leaky wire

We consider a model of a leaky quantum wire with the Hamiltonian $-\Delta -\alpha \delta(x-\Gamma)$ in $L^2(\R^2)$, where $\Gamma$ is a compact deformation of a straight line. The existence of wave operators is proven and the S-matrix is found for the negative part of the spectrum. Moreover, we conjecture that the scattering at negative energies becomes asymptotically purely one-dimensional, being determined by the local geometry in the leading order, if $\Gamma$ is a smooth curve and $\alpha \to\infty$.Comment: Latex2e, 15 page

An isoperimetric problem for leaky loops and related mean-chord inequalities

We consider a class of Hamiltonians in $L^2(\R^2)$ with attractive interaction supported by piecewise $C^2$ smooth loops $\Gamma$ of a fixed length $L$, formally given by $-\Delta-\alpha\delta(x-\Gamma)$ with $\alpha>0$. It is shown that the ground state of this operator is locally maximized by a circular $\Gamma$. We also conjecture that this property holds globally and show that the problem is related to an interesting family of geometric inequalities concerning mean values of chords of $\Gamma$.Comment: LaTeX, 16 page

An isoperimetric problem for point interactions

We consider Hamiltonian with $N$ point interactions in $\R^d, d=2,3,$ all with the same coupling constant, placed at vertices of an equilateral polygon \PP_N. It is shown that the ground state energy is locally maximized by a regular polygon. The question whether the maximum is global is reduced to an interesting geometric problem.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 10 page

A single-mode quantum transport in serial-structure geometric scatterers

We study transport in quantum systems consisting of a finite array of N identical single-channel scatterers. A general expression of the S matrix in terms of the individual-element data obtained recently for potential scattering is rederived in this wider context. It shows in particular how the band spectrum of the infinite periodic system arises in the limit $N\to\infty$. We illustrate the result on two kinds of examples. The first are serial graphs obtained by chaining loops or T-junctions. A detailed discussion is presented for a finite-periodic "comb"; we show how the resonance poles can be computed within the Krein formula approach. Another example concerns geometric scatterers where the individual element consists of a surface with a pair of leads; we show that apart of the resonances coming from the decoupled-surface eigenvalues such scatterers exhibit the high-energy behavior typical for the delta' interaction for the physically interesting couplings.Comment: 36 pages, a LaTeX source file with 2 TeX drawings, 3 ps and 3 jpeg figures attache

Leaky quantum graphs: approximations by point interaction Hamiltonians

We prove an approximation result showing how operators of the type $-\Delta -\gamma \delta (x-\Gamma)$ in $L^2(\mathbb{R}^2)$, where $\Gamma$ is a graph, can be modeled in the strong resolvent sense by point-interaction Hamiltonians with an appropriate arrangement of the $\delta$ potentials. The result is illustrated on finding the spectral properties in cases when $\Gamma$ is a ring or a star. Furthermore, we use this method to indicate that scattering on an infinite curve $\Gamma$ which is locally close to a loop shape or has multiple bends may exhibit resonances due to quantum tunneling or repeated reflections.Comment: LaTeX 2e, 31 pages with 18 postscript figure

Interlaced dense point and absolutely continuous spectra for Hamiltonians with concentric-shell singular interactions

We analyze the spectrum of the generalized Schrodinger operator in $L^2(R^\nu) \nu \geq 2$, with a general local, rotationally invariant singular interaction supported by an infinite family of concentric, equidistantly spaced spheres. It is shown that the essential spectrum consists of interlaced segments of the dense point and absolutely continuous character, and that the relation of their lengths at high energies depends on the choice of the interaction parameters; generically the p.p. component is asymptotically dominant. We also show that for $\nu=2$ there is an infinite family of eigenvalues below the lowest band.Comment: LaTeX, 18 page