The reduced wave equation in layered materials (Q1371115)

Let \(H_0\) denote the reduced wave operator \(H_0= -\mu_0(\cdot)^{-1}\Delta\), where \(\mu_0\) is a simple function which takes positive values \(\mu_{01}\) and \(\mu_{02}\) on disjoint open sets \(\Omega_1\), \(\Omega_2\) in \(\mathbb{R}^N\), \(N\geq 2\), which are such that \(\overline\Omega_1\cup \Omega_2= \Omega_1\cup\overline\Omega_2= \mathbb{R}^N\). In previous papers, the authors established a limiting absorption principle for \(H_0\), which implies that \(H_0\) is absolutely continuous, if the separating surface \(S= \partial\Omega_1=\partial\Omega_2\) satisfies a cylinder-type condition. An extension is given in this paper to the multimedia case, when \(\mu_0\) can take finitely or infinitely many values. The limiting absorption principle is again established and \(H_0\) is absolutely continuous. The authors also consider operators \(H= -\mu(\cdot)^{-1}\Delta\), where \(\mu= \mu_0+\mu_1\) and \(\mu_1\) is a short-range or long-range perturbation. It is proved for \(H\) that any point spectrum is discrete and the limiting absorption principle holds on any interval which does not contain an eigenvalue.