Comparison theorems for the one-dimensional Schrödinger equation (Q2368548)

The aim of the paper is to compare the the solutions of the Schrödinger equation \[ u''-p^{2}u=0 \tag{1} \] with the solutions of the equations \[ u''-(p^{\star})^{2}u=0 \quad\text{and \qquad (3)\quad}u''-p_{\star}^{2}u=0 \tag{2} \] on \([0,1]\). Here, \(p\) is a nonnegative bounded measurable function on \([0,1]\) and \(p^{\star}\) is the decreasing rearrangement of \(p\) defined by \[ p^{\star}(x)=sup\{t;\mathcal L^{1}\{y;p(y)>t\}>x\}, \] while \(p_{\star}\) is the increasing rearrangement of \(p\) given by \(p_{\star}(x)=p^{\star}(1-x)\). \(\mathcal L^{1}\) denotes the Lebesgue measure on \([0,1]\). The following theorems are proved: 1) If \(u\) and \(v\) are solutions of equations (1) and (3), respectively, such that \(u(0) =v(0)=1\) and \(u'(0)=v'(0) = \alpha\) for some \(| \alpha | \leq 1\), then \(u(1) \geq v(1)\). 2) If \(u\) and \(v\) are solutions of equations (1) and (2), respectively, such that \(u(0) =v(0)=1\) and \(\alpha u(1)+u'(1)=\alpha v(1)+v'(1) =1\) for some \(| \alpha | \leq 1\), then \(u(x) \leq v(x)\) for all \(x\in [0,1]\). These two theorems are no more true for \(| \alpha | > 1\). The proofs are based on the analysis of the behavior of the transition matrix when performing rearrangements.