A new approach to inverse spectral theory. I: Fundamental formalism (Q1971910)

The inverse spectral problem of recovering the potential \(q(x)\) in the Schrödinger operator \(-(d^2/dx^2)\allowbreak+q\) on \((0,b)\), with Dirichlet, Neumann or mixed-type boundary condition at \(x=b\) if \(b\) is finite, from the Weyl \(m\)-function is solved by writing the \(m\)-function in the form \[ m(-\kappa^2,x)=-\kappa-\int_0^b A(\alpha,x)e^{-2\alpha\kappa} d\alpha +O(e^{-(2b-\varepsilon)\kappa}),\qquad\kappa\to+\infty, \] solving the integrodifferential equation \[ {{\partial A(\alpha,x)}\over{\partial x}}= {{\partial A(\alpha,x)}\over{\partial\alpha}} +\int_0^\alpha A(\beta,x)A(\alpha-\beta,x) d\beta, \] and putting \(q(x)=A(0^+,x)\). Smoothness properties of \(q\) are related to those of \(A\). Known asymptotic results for the Weyl \(m\)-function and Borg-type uniqueness results for the potential are rederived.