On the destabilizing effect of damping on discrete and continuous circulatory systems

The ‘Ziegler paradox’, concerning the destabilizing effect of damping on elastic systems loaded by nonconservative positional forces, is addressed. The paper aims to look at the phenomenon in a new perspective, according to which no surprising discontinuities in the critical load exist between undamped and damped systems. To show that the actual critical load is found as an (infinitesimal) perturbation of one of the infinitely many sub-critically loaded undamped systems. A series expansion of the damped eigenvalues around the distinct purely imaginary undamped eigenvalues is performed, with the load kept as a fixed, although unknown, parameter. The first sensitivity of the eigenvalues, which is found to be real, is zeroed, so that an implicit expression for the critical load multiplier is found, which only depends on the ‘shape’ of damping, being independent of its magnitude. An interpretation is given of the destabilization paradox, by referring to the concept of ‘modal damping’, according to which the sign of the projection of the damping force on the eigenvector of the dual basis, and not on the eigenvector itself, is the true responsible for stability. The whole procedure is explained in detail for discrete systems, and successively extended to continuous systems. Two sample structures are studied for illustrative purposes: the classical reverse double-pendulum under a follower force and a linear visco-elastic beam under a follower force and a dead load.     

A unitary analogue of Kato's theorem on variation of discrete spectra

We obtain an estimate of the distance between extended enumerations of the discrete eigenvalues of two unitary operators whose difference is compact.     

Embedded eigenvalues of Sturm Liouville operators

In this work we study the behavior of embedded eigenvalues of Sturm-Liouville problems in the half axis under local perturbations. When the derivative of the spectral function is strictly positive, we prove that the embedded eigenvalues either disappear or remain fixed. In this case we show that local perturbations cannot add eigenvalues in the continuous spectrum. If the condition on the spectral function is removed then a local perturbation can add infinitely many eigenvalues.     

Mechanism of stabilization of ballooning modes by toroidal rotation shear in tokamaks

A ballooning perturbation in a toroidally rotating tokamak is expanded by square-integrable eigenfunctions of an eigenvalue problem associated with ballooning modes in a static plasma. Especially a weight function is chosen such that the eigenvalue problem has only the discrete spectrum. The eigenvalues evolve in time owing to toroidal rotation shear, resulting in a countably infinite number of crossings among them. The crossings cause energy transfer from an unstable mode to the infinite number of stable modes; such transfer works as the stabilization mechanism of the ballooning mode.     

Return to equilibrium in theXY model

We prove that the locally perturbedXY model returns to equilibrium under the unperturbed evolution but the unperturbed model does not necessarily approach equilibrium under the perturbed evolution. In fact this latter property is false for perturbation by a local magnetization. The failure is directly attributable to the formation of bound states. If the perturbation is quadratic these problems are reduced to spectral analysis of the one-particle Hamiltonian. We demonstrate that the perturbed Hamiltonian has a finite set of eigenvalues of finite multiplicity together with some absolutely continuous spectrum. Eigenvalues can occur in the continuum if, and only if, the perturbation dislocates the system. Singular continuous spectrum cannot occur.     

Perturbation of embedded eigenvalues in the generalizedN-body problem

We discuss the perturbation of continuum eigenvalues without analyticity assumptions. Among our results, we show that generally a small perturbation removes these eigenvalues in accordance with Fermi's Golden Rule. Thus, generically (in a Baire category sense), the Schrödinger operator has no embedded non-threshold eigenvalues.Supported in part by NSF Grant DMS 8602826     

Radiative temperature dissipation in a finite atmosphere—I. The homogeneous case

We have developed a new approach toward solving problems of linear radiative relaxation of LTE temperature perturbations in a plane-parallel atmosphere of finite extent. We show that the mathematical problem is one of solving an integral eigenvalue equation, for which non-trivial solutions exist only for discrete values of the radiative relaxation time. The solutions for the spatial part of the perturbation constitute a complete and orthogonal set of basis functions, making it possible to solve more general problems of temperature relaxation. In applying this method to radiative relaxation in the middle atmosphere of earth, we show how the additional influences of photochemical coupling, advection by winds, and eddy diffusion by small-scale turbulence may be easily included using matrix perturbation techniques. We have solved the homogeneous integral equation for a wide variety of vertical thicknesses in an idealized homogeneous slab medium. Adopting a number of different analytic line profiles (rectangular, Doupler, Voigt, and Lorentz) we have obtained numerical solutions using an exponential-kernel method for solving the integral equation. The discrete eigenvalue “spectrum” is presented for vertical optical depths (0–10³) at line-center, and is used in solving several initial-value problems for a decaying temperature perturbation. We find that the eigenvalue spectrum is bounded from above by the lowest-order eigenvalue, and bounded from below by the familiar transparent approximation. The dependence of the lowest even eigenvalue on optical depth and the relative separation of the higher eigenvalues are found to depend sensitively on the line profile.     

Effects of detuning on Hopf bifurcation at double eigenvalues in laser systems

Adiabatic elimination procedure and normal form techniques are used to show the influence of detuning on Hopf bifurcation at double eigenvalues which occurs in certain laser systems. Treating detuning as a small perturbation we show how it splits the bifurcation under consideration into a sequence of simpler ones.     

Pade approximants and the anharmonic oscillator

The diagonal Padé approximants of the perturbation series for the eigenvalues of the anharmonic oscillator (a βκ¹ perturbation of p² + κ²) converge to the eigenvalues.     

Elastic scattering of acoustic phonons on point mass defects

The relaxation of homogeneous states of long-wave acoustic phonon gas scattered by point mass defects in transversely—isotropic media is studied. The spectrum of the suitable collision operator of the Boltzmann-Peierls equation is investigated. It consists of a continuous part and several discrete eigenvalues. Both continuous and discrete part of the spectrum depend on the values of components of the elastic constant tensor. For some values of elastic constants the continuous part splits up into two separate intervals and some of the discrete eigenvalues appear in the gap. The number of discrete eigenvalues and their arrangement are also affected by elastic properties of medium.     

Application of Lie transform perturbation method for multidimensional non-Hermitian systems

Three-dimensional non-Hermitian systems are investigated using classical perturbation theory based on Lie transformations. Analytic expressions for total energy in terms of action variables are derived. Both real and complex semiclassical eigenvalues are obtained by quantizing the action variables. It was found that semiclassical energy eigenvalues calculated with the classical perturbation theory are in very good agreement with exact energies and for certain non-Hermitian systems second-order classical perturbation theory performed better than the second-order Rayleigh–Schroedinger perturbation theory.     

Degenerate asymptotic perturbation theory

Asymptotic Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory for discrete eigenvalues is developed systematically in the general degenerate case. For this purpose we study the spectral properties ofm×m—matrix functionsA(κ) of a complex variable κ which have an asymptotic expansion εA _k κ ^k as τ→0. We show that asymptotic expansions for groups of eigenvalues and for the corresponding spectral projections ofA(κ) can be obtained from the set {A _κ} by analytic perturbation theory. Special attention is given to the case whereA(κ) is Borel-summable in some sector originating from κ=0 with opening angle >π. Here we prove that the asymptotic series describe individual eigenvalues and eigenprojections ofA(κ) which are shown to be holomorphic inS near κ=0 and Borel summable ifA _k ^* =A _k for allk. We then fit these results into the scheme of Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation theory and we give some examples of asymptotic estimates for Schrödinger operators.     

Accurate summation of the perturbation series for periodic eigenvalue problems

We show that algebraic approximants prove suitable for the summation of the perturbation series for the eigenvalues of periodic problems. Appropriate algebraic approximants constructed from the perturbation series for a given eigenvalue provide information about other eigenvalues connected with the chosen one by branch points in the complex plane. Such approximants also give those branch points with remarkable accuracy. We choose Mathieu's equation as illustrative example. Received 6 December 2000     

A particle in a box in the presence of an electric field and applications to disordered systems

The Green's function and energy eigenvalues of an electron under the influence of a uniform electric field in a box with infinitely high sides is investigated. The second order correction to the energy eigenvalues is calculated by finding zeros of the wronskian and comparing with the value obtained from second order perturbation theory. Comparison is made with the limiting conditions in which the size of the box tends to infinity and the electric field tends towards zero. The results of the investigation suggest a possible criterion for localisation. The value obtained for the ground state energy is used to extend a model of Edwards to study the tail of the density of states of a disordered system in the presence of an electric field.     

Nonautonomous Hamiltonians

We present a theory of resonances for a class of nonautonomous Hamiltonians to treat the structural instability of spatially localized and time-periodic solutions associated with an unperturbed autonomous Hamiltonian. The mechanism of instability is radiative decay, due to resonant coupling of the discrete modes to the continuum modes by the time-dependent perturbation. This results in a slow transfer of energy from the discrete modes to the continuum. The rate of decay of solutions is slow and hence the decaying bound states can be viewed as metastable. The ideas are closely related to the authors' work on (i) a time-dependent approach to the instability of eigenvalues embedded in the continuous spectra, and (ii) resonances, radiation damping, and instability in Hamiltonian nonlinear wave equations. The theory is applied to a general class of Schrödinger equations. The phenomenon of ionization may be viewed as a resonance problem of the type we consider and we apply our theory to find the rate of ionization, spectral line shift, and local decay estimates for such Hamiltonians.     

Eigenvalue spectra of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">PT</Emphasis>-symmetric coupled quartic potential in two dimensions

The Schrödinger equation was solved for a generalized PT-symmetric quartic potential in two dimensions. It was found that, under a suitable ansatz for the wave function, the system possessed real and discrete energy eigenvalues. Analytic expressions for the energy eigenvalues and the eigenfunctions for the first four states were obtained. Some constraining relations among the wave function parameters rendered the problem quasi-solvable.     

Calculation of the scattering amplitude from discrete eigenvalues

We show that the scattering amplitude for a target with spherical symmetry can be directly calculated from the discrete eigenvalues of the corresponding stationary wave equation solved under an absorbing boundary condition, and thus uncover a direct connection between the scattering amplitude and the wave number spectrum. As an illustration, we apply this approach to the scattering of an electromagnetic wave by an array of dielectric slabs and find the transmission coefficient of the array to be completely determined by the spacing between adjacent eigenvalues.     

Second Order Perturbation Theory for Embedded Eigenvalues

We study second order perturbation theory for embedded eigenvalues of an abstract class of self-adjoint operators. Using an extension of the Mourre theory, under assumptions on the regularity of bound states with respect to a conjugate operator, we prove upper semicontinuity of the point spectrum and establish the Fermi Golden Rule criterion. Our results apply to massless Pauli-Fierz Hamiltonians for arbitrary coupling.     

Perturbation theory for velocity-dependent potentials

In the presence of a velocity-dependent Kisslinger potential, the partial-wave, time-independent Schr?dinger equation with real boundary conditions is written as an equation for the probability density. The changes in the bound-state energy eigenvalues due to the addition of small perturbations in the local as well as the Kisslinger potentials are determined up to second order in the perturbation. These changes are determined purely in terms of the unperturbed probability density, the perturbing local potential, as well as the Kisslinger perturbing potential and its gradient. The dependence on the gradient of the Kisslinger potential stresses the importance of a diffuse edge in nuclei. Two explicit examples are presented to examine the validity of the perturbation formulas. The first assumes each of the local and velocity-dependent parts of the potential to be a finite square well. In the second example, the velocity-dependent potential takes the form of a harmonic oscillator. In both cases the energy eigenvalues are determined exactly and then by using perturbation theory. The agreement between the exact energy eigenvalues and those obtained by perturbation theory is very satisfactory. Received: 24 May 2002 / Accepted: 15 July 2002 / Published online: 3 December 2002 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: mij@hu.edu.jo Communicated by V. Vento     

Gap solitons and their linear stability in one-dimensional periodic media

An analytical theory utilizing exponential asymptotics is presented for one-dimensional gap solitons that bifurcate from edges of Bloch bands in the presence of a general periodic potential. It is shown that two soliton families bifurcate out from every Bloch-band edge under self-focusing or self-defocusing nonlinearity, and an asymptotic expression for the eigenvalues associated with the linear stability of these solitons is derived. The locations of these solitons relative to the underlying potential are determined from a certain recurrence relation, that contains information beyond all orders of the usual perturbation expansion in powers of the soliton amplitude. Moreover, this same recurrence relation decides which of the two soliton families is unstable. The analytical predictions for the stability eigenvalues are in excellent agreement with numerical results.