On the deficiency indices of singular differential operators in the degenerate case (Q1810055)

This paper studies the spectral properties of the minimal differential operator \(L_0\) generated in the space \(L^2[0,\infty)\) by the differential expression \[ ly= (-1)^n y^{(2n)}+ \sum^{n-1}_{k=0} (-1)^k (p_{n-k}(x) y^{(k)})^{(k)}. \] It now depends on the behavior of the coefficients \(p_k(x)\). The paper then considers the roots of the associated characteristic equation, \[ F(x,\lambda,\mu)= \mu^{2n}+ \sum^{n-1}_{k=1} (-1)^k p_k(x)\mu^{2n-2k}- (-1)^n\lambda, \] where its roots behave differently at infinity. This is then named the degenerate case. Hence, the authors study the case when the coefficients tend to infinity as \(x\) tends to infinity, giving some roots of the characteristic equation tending to zero and others increase without limit. Several theorems are then very well presented, estimating ratios of the roots of the characteristic polynomial. Several examples are included for each of the principal theorems presented in the paper. The paper is very well written and concise in its proofs.