Smilansky's model of irreversible quantum graphs, I: the absolutely continuous spectrum

In the model suggested by Smilansky one studies an operator describing the interaction between a quantum graph and a system of $K$ one-dimensional oscillators attached at several different points in the graph. The present paper is the first one in which the case $K>1$ is investigated. For the sake of simplicity we consider K=2, but our argument is of a general character. In this first of two papers on the problem, we describe the absolutely continuous spectrum. Our approach is based upon scattering theory

Schr\"odinger operator on homogeneous metric trees: spectrum in gaps

The paper studies the spectral properties of the Schr\"odinger operator $A_{gV} = A_0 + gV$ on a homogeneous rooted metric tree, with a decaying real-valued potential $V$ and a coupling constant $g\ge 0$. The spectrum of the free Laplacian $A_0 = -\Delta$ has a band-gap structure with a single eigenvalue of infinite multiplicity in the middle of each finite gap. The perturbation $gV$ gives rise to extra eigenvalues in the gaps. These eigenvalues are monotone functions of $g$ if the potential $V$ has a fixed sign. Assuming that the latter condition is satisfied and that $V$ is symmetric, i.e. depends on the distance to the root of the tree, we carry out a detailed asymptotic analysis of the counting function of the discrete eigenvalues in the limit $g\to\infty$. Depending on the sign and decay of $V$, this asymptotics is either of the Weyl type or is completely determined by the behaviour of $V$ at infinity.Comment: AMS LaTex file, 47 page

Irreversible quantum graphs

Irreversibility is introduced to quantum graphs by coupling the graphs to a bath of harmonic oscillators. The interaction which is linear in the harmonic oscillator amplitudes is localized at the vertices. It is shown that for sufficiently strong coupling, the spectrum of the system admits a new continuum mode which exists even if the graph is compact, and a {\it single} harmonic oscillator is coupled to it. This mechanism is shown to imply that the quantum dynamics is irreversible. Moreover, it demonstrates the surprising result that irreversibility can be introduced by a "bath" which consists of a {\it single} harmonic oscillator

Limit theorems for self-similar tilings

We study deviation of ergodic averages for dynamical systems given by self-similar tilings on the plane and in higher dimensions. The main object of our paper is a special family of finitely-additive measures for our systems. An asymptotic formula is given for ergodic integrals in terms of these finitely-additive measures, and, as a corollary, limit theorems are obtained for dynamical systems given by self-similar tilings.Comment: 36 pages; some corrections and improved exposition, especially in Section 4; references adde

An estimate for the Morse index of a Stokes wave

Stokes waves are steady periodic water waves on the free surface of an infinitely deep irrotational two dimensional flow under gravity without surface tension. They can be described in terms of solutions of the Euler-Lagrange equation of a certain functional. This allows one to define the Morse index of a Stokes wave. It is well known that if the Morse indices of the elements of a set of non-singular Stokes waves are bounded, then none of them is close to a singular one. The paper presents a quantitative variant of this result.Comment: This version contains an additional reference and some minor change

Pure point diffraction implies zero entropy for Delone sets with uniform cluster frequencies

Delone sets of finite local complexity in Euclidean space are investigated. We show that such a set has patch counting and topological entropy 0 if it has uniform cluster frequencies and is pure point diffractive. We also note that the patch counting entropy is 0 whenever the repetitivity function satisfies a certain growth restriction.Comment: 16 pages; revised and slightly expanded versio

Aperiodic order and pure point diffraction

We give a leisurely introduction into mathematical diffraction theory with a focus on pure point diffraction. In particular, we discuss various characterisations of pure point diffraction and common models arising from cut and project schemes. We finish with a list of open problems.Comment: 14 page

Golden gaskets: variations on the Sierpi\'nski sieve

We consider the iterated function systems (IFSs) that consist of three general similitudes in the plane with centres at three non-collinear points, and with a common contraction factor \la\in(0,1). As is well known, for \la=1/2 the invariant set, \S_\la, is a fractal called the Sierpi\'nski sieve, and for \la<1/2 it is also a fractal. Our goal is to study \S_\la for this IFS for 1/2<\la<2/3, i.e., when there are "overlaps" in \S_\la as well as "holes". In this introductory paper we show that despite the overlaps (i.e., the Open Set Condition breaking down completely), the attractor can still be a totally self-similar fractal, although this happens only for a very special family of algebraic \la's (so-called "multinacci numbers"). We evaluate \dim_H(\S_\la) for these special values by showing that \S_\la is essentially the attractor for an infinite IFS which does satisfy the Open Set Condition. We also show that the set of points in the attractor with a unique ``address'' is self-similar, and compute its dimension. For ``non-multinacci'' values of \la we show that if \la is close to 2/3, then \S_\la has a nonempty interior and that if \la<1/\sqrt{3} then \S_\la$ has zero Lebesgue measure. Finally we discuss higher-dimensional analogues of the model in question.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figure

Harmonic analysis of iterated function systems with overlap

In this paper we extend previous work on IFSs without overlap. Our method involves systems of operators generalizing the more familiar Cuntz relations from operator algebra theory, and from subband filter operators in signal processing.Comment: 37 page