On a conjecture by Y.\,Last (Q1028406)

Consider the Jacobi matrix \(J=[J_{m,n}\mid m=1,\dots,\infty,\;n=1,\dots,\infty]\) defined by \(J_{m,m}=v_m\), \(J_{m,m+1}=J_{m-1,m} =1\), and \(J_{m,n}=0\) otherwise. The author proves the following conjecture posed by \textit{Y.\,Last} in [Commun.\ Math.\ Phys.\ 274, No.\,1, 243-252 (2007; Zbl 1167.47059), reviewed further below], relating to the discrete Schrödinger operator on the half-lattice with bounded real potential \(v\). Conjecture. Do the conditions \(v_n\to 0\) as \(n\to\infty\), and \(\{v_{n+q}-v_n\mid n\in\mathbb{Z}^+\} \in \ell^2(\mathbb{Z}^+)\) for a fixed \(q\in\mathbb{Z}^+\), guarantee that the absolutely continuous spectrum \(\sigma_{ac}(J)=[-2,2]\)? In the first section, the author gives the determinantal formula \(a(z)=\det[(H-z)/(H_0-z)]\) for the transmission coefficient, which allows to treat the case \(q=1\). Take \(H^N\) on \(\ell^2 (\mathbb{Z})\) with potential \(v_j=v^N_j\), \(v^N=v\cdot\chi_{j<N}\) for \(\geq 0\), and \(v_j=0\) for \(j<0\). Take \(J^N\) as the analogous truncation for \(J\). Let \(d\rho_N (\lambda)\) be the spectral measure of \(J^N\), and \(d\rho_N(\lambda)\to d\rho (\lambda)\) as \(N\to \infty\). The author proves that \(\int_{(-2+\delta,2-\delta)}\ln\rho' (z)\,dz\geq-C\) for all \(\delta>0\). In the second part, he shows how asymptotical methods provide the solution for any \(q\). He proves that \(\int_{I_j(\delta)}\ln\rho'(z)\,dz>-\infty\) for all \(\delta>0\), \(j=0,1,\dots,q_1\), by using \(\rho_N\) with \(N=qm\). Here, the \(I_j(\delta)= (z_j+\delta,z_{j+1}-\delta)\) are intervals relating to \(T_m(z)= (\Omega+V_{mq+q})\dots (\Omega+V_{mq+1})\).