Regular and pathological eigenvalue behavior for the equation \(-\lambda u''=Vu\) on the semiaxis (Q1378484)

Let \(T_\sigma\) be the operator on \(H^1_0\) given by the variational equality \[ \int(T_\sigma u)'\bar v'dx=\int u\bar vd\sigma \quad \forall v\in H^1_0 \] for a Boler measure \(\sigma\). Let \(\{\lambda_k\}\) be the eigenvalues of \(T_\sigma\) counted according to their multiplicities. The eigenvalue behaviour is described by the eigenvalue distribution function \[ n(\lambda)=\#\{k: \lambda_k>\lambda\}. \] Typically, \(n(\lambda)= O(\lambda^{-{1\over 2}})\) and \(\lambda^{1\over 2}n(\lambda) \to \pi^{-1}\int\sqrt V dx \) as \(\lambda\to 0\), where \(V=d\sigma/dx\). The main results are necessary and sufficient conditions on \(\sigma\) which imply each of these relations. Moreover, examples of pathological eigenvalue behaviour are presented. The criteria provide a basis for constructing functions \(V\) such that \(n(\lambda)=O(\lambda^{-{1\over 2}})\) and \(\lim_{\lambda\to 0}\lambda^{1\over 2}n(\lambda)\) does exist but is not equal to \(\pi^{-1}\int\sqrt V dx.\)