We study the adjointness problem for the closed extensions of a general b-elliptic operator A in x^{-ν}Diff^m_b(M;E), ν>0, initially defined as an unbounded operator A:C_c^\infty(M;E)\subset x^μL^2_b(M;E)\to x^μL^2_b(M;E), μ\in \R. The case where A is a symmetric semibounded operator is of particular interest, and we give a complete description of the domain of the Friedrichs extension of such an operator.
It is known that extremizers for the $L^2$ to $L^6$ adjoint Fourier restriction inequality on the cone in $\mathbb{R}^3$ exist. Here we show that nonnegative extremizing sequences are precompact, after the application of symmetries of the cone. If we use the knowledge of the exact form of the extremizers, as found by Carneiro, then we can show that nonnegative extremizing sequences converge, after the application of symmetries.
We show that, possibly after a compactification of spacetime, constant functions are local maximizers of the Tomas-Stein adjoint Fourier restriction inequality for the cone and paraboloid in every dimension, and for the sphere in dimension up to 60. For the cone and paraboloid we work from the PDE framework, which enables the use of the Penrose and the Lens transformations, which map the conjectured optimal functions into constants.
We present an overview of some of our recent results on the existence of rays of minimal growth for elliptic cone operators and two new results concerning the necessity of certain conditions for the existence of such rays.
In this paper, we consider elliptic differential operators on compact manifolds with a random perturbation in the 0th order term and show under fairly weak additional assumptions that the large eigenvalues almost surely distribute according to the Weyl law, well-known in the self-adjoint case.
We consider an elliptic pseudo differential equation in a multi-dimensional cone and starting wave factorization concept we add some boundary conditions. For the simplest cases explicit formulas for solution are given like layer potentials for classical case.
Given a symmetric, semi-bounded, second order elliptic differential operator on a bounded domain with $C^{1,1}$ boundary, we provide a Krein-type formula for the resolvent difference between its Friedrichs extension and an arbitrary self-adjoint one.
We study the homogenization problem for matrix strongly elliptic operators on $L_2(\mathbb R^d)^n$ of the form $\mathcal A^\varepsilon=-\operatorname{div}A(x,x/\varepsilon)\nabla$. The function $A$ is Lipschitz in the first variable and periodic in the second. We do not require that $A^*=A$, so $\mathcal A^\varepsilon$ need not be self-adjoint. In this paper, we provide, for small $\varepsilon$, two terms in the uniform approximation for $(\mathcal A^\varepsilon-μ)^{-1}$ and a first term in the uniform approximation for $\nabla(\mathcal A^\varepsilon-μ)^{-1}$. Primary attention is paid to prov…
This paper is being replaced by another of the author's that contains a brief summary of the problem of positivity of Green's functions, heat kernels, and principal eigenvalues of higher-order elliptic differential operators.
The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed description of the spaces that can be specified as $L^2$ domains for the operators of a first order elliptic complex on a compact manifold with conical singularities. This entails an analysis of the nature of the minimal domain and of a complementary space in the maximal domain of each of the operators. The key technical result is the nondegeneracy of a certain pairing of cohomology classes associated with the indicial complex. It is further proved that the set of choices of domains leading to Hilbert complexes in the sense of Brüning and Lesc…
We study the relationship between the classical Hamilton flow and the quantum Schrödinger evolution where the Hamiltonian is a degree-2 complex-valued polynomial. When the flow obeys a strict positivity condition equivalent to compactness of the evolution operator, we find geometric expressions for the $L^2$ operator norm and a singular-value decomposition of the Schrödinger evolution, using the Hamilton flow. The flow also gives a geometric composition law for these operators, which correspond to a large class of integral operators with nondegenerate Gaussian kernels.
We discuss counterexamples to the validity of the weak Maximum Principle for linear elliptic systems with zero and first order couplings and prove, through a suitable reduction to a nonlinear scalar equation, a quite general result showing that some algebraic condition on the structure of gradient couplings and a cooperativity condition on the matrix of zero order couplings guarantee the existence of invariant cones in the sense of Weinberger [21].
The abstract theory of self-adjoint extensions of symmetric operators is used to construct self-adjoint realizations of a second-order elliptic operator on $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ with linear boundary conditions on (a relatively open part of) a compact hypersurface. Our approach allows to obtain Krein-like resolvent formulas where the reference operator coincides with the "free" operator with domain $H^{2}(\mathbb{R}^{n})$; this provides an useful tool for the scattering problem from a hypersurface. Concrete examples of this construction are developed in connection with the standard boundary conditio…
In this paper we provide a complete study of the spectrum of a constant coefficients differential operator on a scale of localized Sobolev spaces, $H^{s}_{loc}(I),$ which are Fréchet spaces. This is quite different from what we find in the literature, where all the relevant results are concerned with spectrum on Banach spaces. Our aim is to understand the behavior of all the three types of spectrum (point, residual and continuous) and the relation between them and those of the dual operator. The main result we present shows that there is no complex number in the resolvent set of such operators…
We consider a boundary value problem for the Dirac equation in a smooth, asymptotically flat Lorentzian manifold admitting a Killing field which is timelike near and tangential to the boundary. A self-adjoint extension of the Dirac Hamiltonian is constructed. Our results also apply to the situation that the space-time includes horizons, where the Hamiltonian fails to be elliptic.
We apply G-convergence theory to study the asymptotic of the eigenvalue problems of positive definite bounded self-adjoint $h$-dependent operators as $h\to\infty$. Two operators are considered; a second order elliptic operator and a general linear operator. Using the definition of G-convergence of elliptic operator, we review convergence results of the elliptic eigenvalue problem as $h\to\infty$. Also employing the general definition of G-convergence of positive definite self-adjoint operator together with $Γ$-convergence of the associated quadratic form, we characterize the G-limit as $h\to\i…
In this paper, we combine results on extensions of operators with recent results on the relation between the M-function and the spectrum, to examine the spectral behaviour of boundary value problems. M-functions are defined for general closed extensions, and associated with realisations of elliptic operators. In particular, we consider both ODE and PDE examples where it is possible for the operator to possess spectral points that can not be detected by the M-function.
The paper deals with the three-dimensional Dirichlet boundary value problem (BVP) for a second order strongly elliptic self-adjoint system of partial differential equations in the divergence form with variable coefficients and develops the integral potential method based on a localized parametrix. Using Green's representation formula and properties of the localized layer and volume potentials, we reduce the Dirichlet BVP to a system of localized boundary-domain integral equations (LBDIEs). The equivalence between the Dirichlet BVP and the corresponding LBDIE system is studied. We establish tha…
Given a reflexive Banach space $X$, we consider a class of functionals $Φ\in C^1(X,\Re)$ that do not behave in a uniform way, in the sense that the map $t \mapsto Φ(tu)$, $t>0$, does not have a uniform geometry with respect to $u\in X$. Assuming instead such a uniform behavior within an open cone $Y \subset X \setminus \{0\}$, we show that $Φ$ has a ground state relative to $Y$. Some further conditions ensure that this relative ground state is the (absolute) ground state of $Φ$. Several applications to elliptic equations and systems are given.
We consider the homogenization of a singularly perturbed self-adjoint fourth order elliptic equation with locally periodic coefficients, stated in a bounded domain. We impose Dirichlet boundary conditions on the boundary of the domain. The presence of large parameters in the lower order terms and the dependence of the coefficients on the slow variable give rise to the effect of localization of the eigenfunctions. We show that the $j$th eigenfunction can be approximated by a rescaled function that is constructed in terms of the $j$th eigenfunction of fourth or second order order effective opera…
We prove that parameter-elliptic extensions of cone differential operators have a bounded $H_\infty$-calculus. Applications concern the Laplacian and the porous medium equation on manifolds with warped conical singularities.
The general self-adjoint elliptic boundary value problems are considered in a domain $G\subset \Bbb R^{n+1}$ with finitely many cylindrical ends. The coefficients are stabilizing (as $x\to\infty$, $x\in G$) so slowly that we can only describe some ``structure'' of solutions far from the origin. This problem may be understood as a model of ``generalized branching waveguide.'' We introduce a notion of the energy flow through the cross-sections of the cylindrical ends and define outgoing and incoming ``waves.'' An augmented scattering matrix is introduced. Analyzing the spectrum of this matrix on…
We study positive supersolutions to an elliptic equation $(*)$: $-Δu=c|x|^{-s}u^p$, $p,s\in\bf R$ in cone-like domains in $\bf R^N$ ($N\ge 2$). We prove that in the sublinear case $p<1$ there exists a critical exponent $p_*<1$ such that equation $(*)$ has a positive supersolution if and only if $-\infty<p<p_*$. The value of $p_*$ is determined explicitly by $s$ and the geometry of the cone.
We study the inequality $ -Δu - \fracμ{|x|^2} u \geq (|x|^{-α} * u^p)u^q$ in an unbounded cone $\mathcal{C}_Ω^ρ\subset \mathbb{R}^N$ ($N\geq 2$) generated by a subdomain $Ω$ of the unit sphere $S^{N-1}\subset \mathbb{R}^N,$ $p, q, ρ>0$, $μ\in \mathbb{R}$ and $0\leq α< N$. In the above, $|x|^{-α} * u^p$ denotes the standard convolution operator in the cone $\mathcal{C}_Ω^ρ$. We discuss the existence and nonexistence of positive solutions in terms of $N, p, q, α, μ$ and $Ω$. Extensions to systems of inequalities are also investigated.
We consider the problem of homogenization for non-self-adjoint second-order elliptic differential operators~$\mathcal{A}^{\varepsilon}$ of divergence form on $L_{2}(\mathbb{R}^{d_{1}}\times\mathbb{T}^{d_{2}})$, where $d_{1}$ is positive and~$d_{2}$ is non-negative. The~coefficients of the operator~$\mathcal{A}^{\varepsilon}$ are periodic in the first variable with period~$\varepsilon$ and smooth in a certain sense in the second. We show that, as $\varepsilon$ gets small, $(\mathcal{A}^{\varepsilon}-μ)^{-1}$ and~$D_{x_{2}}(\mathcal{A}^{\varepsilon}-μ)^{-1}$ converge in the operator norm to, res…
In this paper we develop the global symbolic calculus of pseudo-differential operators generated by a boundary value problem for a given (not necessarily self-adjoint or elliptic) differential operator. For this, we also establish elements of a non-self-adjoint distribution theory and the corresponding biorthogonal Fourier analysis. We give applications of the developed analysis to obtain a-priori estimates for solutions of operators that are elliptic within the constructed calculus.
We prove that the index formula for $b$-elliptic cone differential operators given by M. Lesch holds verbatim for operators whose coefficients are not necessarily independent of the normal variable near the boundary. We also show that, for index purposes, the operators can always be considered on weighted Sobolev spaces.
We study the problem of the existence and nonexistence of positive solutions to a superlinear second-order divergence type elliptic equation with measurable coefficients $(*)$: $-\nabla\cdot a\cdot\nabla u=u^p$ in an unbounded cone--like domain $G\subset\bf R^N$ $(N\ge 3)$. We prove that the critical exponent $p^*(a,G)=\inf\{p>1 : (*) \hbox{has a positive supersolution in} G\}$ for a nontrivial cone-like domain is always in $(1,N/(N-2))$ and in contrast with exterior domains depends both on the geometry of the domain $G$ and the coefficients $a$ of the equation.
Green's formulas for elliptic cone differential operators are established. This is done by an accurate description of the maximal domain of an elliptic cone differential operator and its formal adjoint, thereby utilizing the concept of a discrete asymptotic type. From this description, the singular coefficients replacing the boundary traces in classical Green's formulas are deduced.
We investigate asymptotic behavior of solutions for nonlocal elliptic boundary value problems in plane angles and in ${\mathbb R}^2\backslash\{0\}$. Such problems arise as model ones when studying asymptotics of solutions for nonlocal elliptic problems in bounded domains. We obtain explicit formulas for the asymptotic coefficients in terms of eigenvectors and associated vectors of both adjoint nonlocal operators (acting in spaces of distributions) and formally adjoint (with respect to the Green formula) nonlocal problems.
We study the existence and nonexistence of positive (super-)solutions to a singular semilinear elliptic equation $$-\nabla\cdot(|x|^A\nabla u)-B|x|^{A-2}u=C|x|^{A-σ}u^p$$ in cone--like domains of $\R^N$ ($N\ge 2$), for the full range of parameters $A,B,σ,p\in\R$ and $C>0$. We provide a complete characterization of the set of $(p,σ)\in\R^2$ such that the equation has no positive (super-)solutions, depending on the values of $A,B$ and the principle Dirichlet eigenvalue of the cross--section of the cone. The proofs are based on the explicit construction of appropriate barriers and involve the ana…
We solve the Neumann problem in the half space $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}_+$, for higher order elliptic differential equations with variable self-adjoint $t$-independent coefficients, and with boundary data in $L^p$, where $\max\bigl(1,\frac{2n}{n+2}-\varepsilon\bigr) < p < 2$. We also establish nontangential and area integral estimates on layer potentials with inputs in $L^p$ or $\dot W^{\pm1,p}$ for a similar range of~$p$, based on known bounds for $p\geq2$; in this case we may relax the requirement of self-adjointess.
These notes record the lectures for the CIME Summer Course taught by the first author in Cetraro during the week of June 19-23, 2017. The notes contain the proofs of several results on the classification of stable solutions to some nonlinear elliptic equations. The results are crucial steps within the regularity theory of minimizers to such problems. We focus our attention on three different equations, emphasizing that the techniques and ideas in the three settings are quite similar. The first topic is the stability of minimal cones. We prove the minimality of the Simons cone in high dimension…
The well-known Ambrosetti-Prodi theorem considers perturbations of the Dirichlet Laplacian by a nonlinear function whose derivative jumps over the principal eigenvalue of the operator. Various extensions of this landmark result were obtained for self-adjoint operators, in particular by Berger and Podolak, who gave a geometrical description of the solution set. In this text we show that similar theorems are valid for non self-adjoint operators. In particular, we prove that the semilinear operator is a global fold. As a consequence, we obtain what appears to be the first exact multiplicity resul…
In this paper, we prove a boundary pointwise regularity for fully nonlinear elliptic equations on cones. In addition, based on this regularity, we give simple proofs of the Liouville theorems on cones.
We study the essential self-adjointness for real principal type differential operators. Unlike the elliptic case, we need geometric conditions even for operators on the Euclidean space with asymptotically constant coefficients, and we prove the essential self-adjointness under the null non-trapping condition.
We solve the Neumann problem in the half space $\mathbb{R}^{n+1}_+$, for higher order elliptic differential equations with variable self-adjoint $t$-independent coefficients, and with boundary data in the negative smoothness space $\dot W^{-1,p}$, where $\max(0,\frac{1}{2}-\frac{1}{n}-\varepsilon) <\frac{1}{p} <\frac{1}{2}$. Our arguments are inspired by an argument of Shen and build on known well posedness results in the case $p=2$. We use the same techniques to establish nontangential and square function estimates on layer potentials with inputs in $L^p$ or $\dot W^{\pm1,p}$ for a similar ra…
We study the oblique derivative problem for uniformly elliptic equations on cone domains. Under the assumption of axi-symmetry of the solution, we find sufficient conditions on the angle of the oblique vector for Hölder regularity of the gradient to hold up to the vertex of the cone. The proof of regularity is based on the application of carefully constructed barrier methods or via perturbative arguments. In the case that such regularity does not hold, we give explicit counterexamples. We also give a counterexample to regularity in the absence of axi-symmetry. Unlike in the equivalent two dime…
This text is a slightly expanded version of my 6 hour mini-course at the PDE-meeting in Évian-les-Bains in June 2009. The first part gives some old and recent results on non-self-adjoint differential operators. The second part is devoted to recent results about Weyl distribution of eigenvalues of elliptic operators with small random perturbations.
We consider various closed (and self-adjoint) extensions of elliptic differential expressions of the type $\cA=\sum_{0\le |α|,|β|\le m}(-1)^αD^αa_{α, β}(x)D^β$, $a_{α, β}(\cdot)\in C^{\infty}({\overlineΩ})$, on smooth (bounded or unbounded) domains in $\bbR^n$ with compact boundary. Using the concept of boundary triples and operator-valued Weyl-Titchmarsh functions, we prove various trace ideal properties of powers of resolvent differences of these closed realizations of $\cA$ and derive estimates on eigenvalues of certain self-adjoint realizations in spectral gaps of the Dirichlet realization…
For a second order formally symmetric elliptic differential expression we show that the knowledge of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map or Robin-to-Dirichlet map for suitably many energies on an arbitrarily small open subset of the boundary determines the self-adjoint operator with a Dirichlet boundary condition or with a (possibly non-self-adjoint) Robin boundary condition uniquely up to unitary equivalence. These results hold for general Lipschitz domains, which can be unbounded and may have a non-compact boundary, and under weak regularity assumptions on the coefficients of the differential expre…
We prove a complex and a real interpolation theorems on Besov spaces and Triebel-Lizorkin spaces associated with a selfadjoint operator $L$, without assuming the gradient estimate for its spectral kernel. The result applies to the cases where $L$ is a uniformly elliptic operator or a Schrödinger operator with electro-magnetic potential.
In considering a class of quasilinear elliptic equations on a Riemannian manifold with nonnegative Ricci curvature, we give a new proof of Tolksdorf's result on the construction of separable $p$-harmonic functions in a cone.
We study exponential decay of eigenfunctions of self-adjoint higher order elliptic operators on $\R^d$. We show that the possible critical decay rates are determined algebraically. In addition we show absence of super-exponentially decaying eigenfunctions and a refined exponential upper bound.
This paper deals with an inverse problem for a non-self-adjoint Schrödinger equation on a compact Riemannian manifold. Our goal is to stably determine a real vector field from the dynamical Dirichlet-to Neumann map. We establish in dimension n greater than 2, an Hölder type stability estimate for the inverse problem under study. The proof is mainly based on the reduction to an equivalent problem for an electro-magnetic Schrödinger equation and the use of a Carleman estimate designed for elliptic operators.
We consider second order elliptic differential operators on a bounded Lipschitz domain $Ω$. Firstly, we establish a natural one-to-one correspondence between their self-adjoint extensions, with domains of definition containing in $H^1(Ω)$, and Lagrangian planes in $H^{1/2}(\partialΩ)\times H^{-1/2}(\partialΩ)$. Secondly, we derive a formula relating the spectral flow of the one-parameter families of such operators to the Maslov index, the topological invariant counting the signed number of conjugate points of paths of Lagrangian planes in $H^{1/2}(\partialΩ)\times H^{-1/2}(\partialΩ)$. Further…
