A boundary value problem for the Sturm-Liouville equation with piecewise entire potential on the curve and solution discontinuity conditions (Q2331115)

The Sturm-Liouville equation \[ u''(z) + (Q(z) - \lambda^2) u(z) = 0 \tag{1} \] is considered on an arbitrary rectifiable curve \(\gamma\) in the complex plane. The potential \(Q(z)\) is piecewise-entire. The solutions of (1) and (or) their derivatives have a finite number of discontinuities on the curve \(\gamma\). The author studies the boundary value problem for (1) with separated boundary conditions. The transmission coefficients at the discontinuity points as well as the boundary condition coefficients are assumed to be independent of the spectral parameter \(\lambda\). It is proved that, depending on the shape of the curve and on the coefficients, the spectrum can be (i) empty, (ii) coinciding with the whole complex plane, (iii) countable and located near a finite number of rays. Necessary and sufficient conditions are formulated for each of the cases (i)--(iii), and asymptotic behavior of the countable spectrum is studied. Using the piecewise-analyticity of the potential, the author transforms the curve into a polygonal chain without changing the monodromy matrix.