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

Exact Casimir Interaction Between Semitransparent Spheres and Cylinders

A multiple scattering formulation is used to calculate the force, arising from fluctuating scalar fields, between distinct bodies described by $\delta$-function potentials, so-called semitransparent bodies. (In the limit of strong coupling, a semitransparent boundary becomes a Dirichlet one.) We obtain expressions for the Casimir energies between disjoint parallel semitransparent cylinders and between disjoint semitransparent spheres. In the limit of weak coupling, we derive power series expansions for the energy, which can be exactly summed, so that explicit, very simple, closed-form expressions are obtained in both cases. The proximity force theorem holds when the objects are almost touching, but is subject to large corrections as the bodies are moved further apart.Comment: 5 pages, 4 eps figures; expanded discussion of previous work and additional references added, minor typos correcte

On the continuous spectral component of the Floquet operator for a periodically kicked quantum system

By a straightforward generalisation, we extend the work of Combescure from rank-1 to rank-N perturbations. The requirement for the Floquet operator to be pure point is established and compared to that in Combescure. The result matches that in McCaw. The method here is an alternative to that work. We show that if the condition for the Floquet operator to be pure point is relaxed, then in the case of the delta-kicked Harmonic oscillator, a singularly continuous component of the Floquet operator spectrum exists. We also provide an in depth discussion of the conjecture presented in Combescure of the case where the unperturbed Hamiltonian is more general. We link the physics conjecture directly to a number-theoretic conjecture of Vinogradov and show that a solution of Vinogradov's conjecture solves the physics conjecture. The result is extended to the rank-N case. The relationship between our work and the work of Bourget on the physics conjecture is discussed.Comment: 25 pages, published in Journal of Mathematical Physic

Cosmic Strings Stabilized by Fermion Fluctuations

We provide a thorough exposition of recent results on the quantum stabilization of cosmic strings. Stabilization occurs through the coupling to a heavy fermion doublet in a reduced version of the standard model. The study combines the vacuum polarization energy of fermion zero-point fluctuations and the binding energy of occupied energy levels, which are of the same order in a semi-classical expansion. Populating these bound states assigns a charge to the string. Strings carrying fermion charge become stable if the Higgs and gauge fields are coupled to a fermion that is less than twice as heavy as the top quark. The vacuum remains stable in the model, because neutral strings are not energetically favored. These findings suggest that extraordinarily large fermion masses or unrealistic couplings are not required to bind a cosmic string in the standard model.Comment: Based on talk by HW at QFEXT 11 (Benasque, Spain), 15p, uses ws-ijmpcs.cls (incl

On the spectrum of the periodic Dirac operator

The absolute continuity of the spectrum for the periodic Dirac operator $$\hat D=\sum_{j=1}^n(-i\frac {\partial}{\partial x_j}-A_j)\hat \alpha_j + \hat V^{(0)}+\hat V^{(1)}, x\in R^n, n\geq 3,$$ is proved given that either $A\in C(R^n;R^n)\cap H^q_{loc}(R^n;R^n)$, 2q > n-2, or the Fourier series of the vector potential $A:R^n\to R^n$ is absolutely convergent. Here, $\hat V^{(s)}=(\hat V^{(s)})^*$ are continuous matrix functions and \hat V^{(s)}\hat \alpha_j=(-1}^s\hat \alpha_j\hat V^{(s)} for all anticommuting Hermitian matrices $\hat \alpha_j$, $\hat \alpha_j^2=\hat I$, s=0,1.Comment: 17 page

Planar waveguide with "twisted" boundary conditions: discrete spectrum

We consider a planar waveguide with combined Dirichlet and Neumann conditions imposed in a "twisted" way. We study the discrete spectrum and describe it dependence on the configuration of the boundary conditions. In particular, we show that in certain cases the model can have discrete eigenvalues emerging from the threshold of the essential spectrum. We give a criterium for their existence and construct them as convergent holomorphic series

Smilansky's model of irreversible quantum graphs, II: the point 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 different points of the graph. This paper is a continuation of our investigation of the case K>1. For the sake of simplicity we consider K=2, but our argument applies to the general situation. In this second paper we apply the variational approach to the study of the point spectrum.Comment: 18 page

Localization effects in a periodic quantum graph with magnetic field and spin-orbit interaction

A general technique for the study of embedded quantum graphs with magnetic fields and spin-orbit interaction is presented. The analysis is used to understand the contribution of Rashba constant to the extreme localization induced by magnetic field in the T3 shaped quantum graph. We show that this effect is destroyed at generic values of the Rashba constant. On the other hand, for certain combinations of the Rashba constant and the magnetic parameters another series of infinitely degenerate eigenvalues appears.Comment: 25 pages, typos corrected, references extende

A rigorous analysis of high order electromagnetic invisibility cloaks

There is currently a great deal of interest in the invisibility cloaks recently proposed by Pendry et al. that are based in the transformation approach. They obtained their results using first order transformations. In recent papers Hendi et al. and Cai et al. considered invisibility cloaks with high order transformations. In this paper we study high order electromagnetic invisibility cloaks in transformation media obtained by high order transformations from general anisotropic media. We consider the case where there is a finite number of spherical cloaks located in different points in space. We prove that for any incident plane wave, at any frequency, the scattered wave is identically zero. We also consider the scattering of finite energy wave packets. We prove that the scattering matrix is the identity, i.e., that for any incoming wave packet the outgoing wave packet is the same as the incoming one. This proves that the invisibility cloaks can not be detected in any scattering experiment with electromagnetic waves in high order transformation media, and in particular in the first order transformation media of Pendry et al. We also prove that the high order invisibility cloaks, as well as the first order ones, cloak passive and active devices. The cloaked objects completely decouple from the exterior. Actually, the cloaking outside is independent of what is inside the cloaked objects. The electromagnetic waves inside the cloaked objects can not leave the concealed regions and viceversa, the electromagnetic waves outside the cloaked objects can not go inside the concealed regions. As we prove our results for media that are obtained by transformation from general anisotropic materials, we prove that it is possible to cloak objects inside general crystals.Comment: The final version is now published in Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, vol 41 (2008) 065207 (21 pp). Included in IOP-Selec

On absolute continuity of the spectrum of a periodic magnetic Schr\"odinger operator

We consider the Schr\"odinger operator in ${\mathbb R}^n$, $n\geq 3$, with the electric potential $V$ and the magnetic potential $A$ being periodic functions (with a common period lattice) and prove absolute continuity of the spectrum of the operator in question under some conditions which, in particular, are satisfied if $V\in L^{n/2}_{{\mathrm {loc}}}({\mathbb R}^n)$ and $A\in H^q_{{\mathrm {loc}}}({\mathbb R}^n;{\mathbb R}^n)$, $q>(n-1)/2$.Comment: 25 page