On the eigenvalues of quantum graph Laplacians with large complex \(\delta\) couplings (Q2025695)

The paper studies the asymptotic positions of the eigenvalues of compact quantum graphs with \(\delta\) coupling condition, when the complex coupling parameter goes to infinity. Compact quantum graphs without potential (operator acting as the negative second derivative on a metric graph) with \(\delta\) coupling condition at a certain set of vertices and standard (Kirchhoff) coupling condition at the other vertices are considered. The \(\delta\) condition prescribes continuity of the wavefunction at the vertex and the sum of the outgoing derivatives is equal to \(\alpha_j\)-multiple of the functional value at the vertex. Unlike most of the papers on quantum graphs, the value of \(\alpha_j\) (in general different for different vertices) is allowed to be complex, which makes the operator non-self-adjoint in the general situation. The standard (Kirchhoff) condition corresponds to the choice \(\alpha = 0\). The main result is the following. Let \(\mathrm{Re\,}\alpha_j \to -\infty\) for \(m\) vertices and \(\alpha_j\to \infty\) (in the complex plane) with \(\mathrm{Re\,}\alpha_j\) bounded from below for the other vertices. Then there are exactly \(m\) eigenvalues that diverge away from the positive real semi-axis. The asymptotic positions of these eigenvalues are given. The other eigenvalues converge to the eigenvalues of the same graph with the standard conditions kept and \(\delta\) conditions replaced by Dirichlet conditions. The proof uses Titchmarsh-Weyl \(M\)-matrices. Moreover, the authors give estimates on the numerical range and real and imaginary parts of the eigenvalues of the operator. The studied problem is connected to the previous work of the authors on the Laplacian on a bounded Lipschitz domain in \(\mathbb{R}^d\) with Robin boundary conditions [\textit{S. Bögli} et al., ``On the eigenvalues of the Robin Laplacian with a complex parameter'', Preprint, \url{arXiv:1908.06041}].