Decomposing the essential spectrum (Q1029318)

The author describes a method of decomposing the essential spectrum of a selfadjoint or non-selfadjoint Schrödinger operator into parts by using the two-sided ideals of a certain standard \(C^*\)-algebra. The conclusion is that under some conditions one can define different types of essential spectrum. The spectral classification obtained in this way is not a unitary invariant of the operators concerned. However, the \(C^*\)-algebra used is the same for all the applications considered, so the results obtained have a high degree of model-independence. After investigating the relevant \(C^*\)-algebra theory, some applications are presented. First, the spectrum of a discrete Schrödinger operator when a periodic potential has a dislocation on one or both of the two axes in \(\mathbb{Z}^2\) is described. Then the abstract methods developed earlier are applied to the resolvents of some Schrödinger and more general differential operators acting in \(L^2(\mathbb{R}^d)\). The spectral mapping theorem then allows one to pull the results back to the original operators. In particular, the application of the methods to multi-body Schrödinger operators is treated. Finally, it is proved that the \(C^*\)-algebraic assumptions are satisfied when considering the Laplace--Beltrami operator on three-dimensional hyperbolic space by writing down the explicit formulae available in this case; the same applies to a wide variety of other Riemannian manifolds, but general heat kernel bounds are needed for the proofs.