On spectral properties of almost Mathieu operators and connections with irrational rotation \(C^*\)-algebras (Q1173651)

In [Proc. Lond. Math. Soc., III. Ser 56, 281-302 (1988; Zbl 0704.47024)] we introduced some concepts that led to a study of some almost periodic Schrödinger operators in the light of the \(C^*\)-algebras they are associated with in a natural way. More specifically, our topic is almost Mathieu operators \(h(\alpha,\beta)\), in the setup of irrational rotation \(C^*\)-algebras. Let \(\alpha\) be an irrational number and let \(u,v\) be two unitary operators such that \(uv=e^{2\pi\alpha i}vu\). Then \(h(\alpha,\beta)\) is the self-adjoint element \(u+u^*+\beta(v+v^*)\) in the \(C^*\)-algebra \({\mathcal A}_ \alpha\) generated by the operators \(u\) and \(v\). In what follows we shall discuss some problems related to this \(C^*\)- algebraic approach. First, we investigate (primarily from an algebraic point of view) the difference equation that characterizes all formal Fourier series in \(u\) and \(v\) which commute with \(h(\alpha,\beta)\). Then we apply this to exhibit domains for \(\beta\) where \(h(\alpha,\beta)\) fails to have point spectrum under certain representations of \({\mathcal A}_ \alpha\) on the Hilbert space \(\ell^ 2(\mathbb{Z})\). Finally, using rational interpolation, we give a characterization in terms of \(C^*\)- algebras of those operators \(h(\alpha,\beta)\) which have a Cantor spectrum.