The five-dimensional Kepler Problem as an SU(2) Gauge System: Algebraic Constraint Quantization

Starting from the structural similarity between the quantum theory of gauge systems and that of the Kepler problem, an SU(2) gauge description of the five-dimensional Kepler problem is given. This non-abelian gauge system is used as a testing ground for the application of an algebraic constraint quantization scheme which can be formulated entirely in terms of observable quantities. For the quantum mechanical reduction only the quadratic Casimir of the constraint algebra, interpreted as an observable, is needed.Comment: 29 pages, Latex, no figure

Spectral properties of singular Sturm-Liouville operators with indefinite weight sgn x

We consider a singular Sturm-Liouville expression with the indefinite weight sgn x. To this expression there is naturally a self-adjoint operator in some Krein space associated. We characterize the local definitizability of this operator in a neighbourhood of $\infty$. Moreover, in this situation, the point $\infty$ is a regular critical point. We construct an operator A=(\sgn x)(-d^2/dx^2+q) with non-real spectrum accumulating to a real point. The obtained results are applied to several classes of Sturm-Liouville operators.Comment: 21 pages, LaTe

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

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

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