Optimal Hardy inequalities for Schrödinger operators on graphs (Q2413445)

For a given subcritical discrete Schrödinger operator \( H\) on a weighted infinite graph \(X\), the authors constructed a Hardy-weight \(w\) which is optimal in the following sense. The operator \(H-\lambda w\) is subcritical in \(X\) for all \(\lambda<1\), null-critical in \( X\) for \(\lambda=1\), and supercritical near any neighborhood of infinity in \(X\) for any \(\lambda>1\). A conceptually different approach was taken by [\textit{B. Devyver} et al., J. Funct. Anal. 266, No. 7, 4422--4489 (2014; Zbl 1298.47057)] in the context of general elliptic Schrödinger operators \(P\) in the case \( p = 2\). There, the weight function \(w\geq 0\) is intrinsically derived from \(P\) in terms of superharmonic functions such as the Green function. This weight \(w\) is shown to be optimal in three aspects:{\parindent=0.7cm\begin{itemize}\item[{\(\bullet\)}] For every \(\tilde{w}<w\) the Hardy inequality fails (``criticality''). \item[{\(\bullet\)}] The ground state is not an eigenfunction (``null-criticality''). \item[{\(\bullet\)}] For any \(\lambda> 0\), the Hardy inequality outside of any compact set fails for the weight \((1 + \lambda)w\) (``optimality near infinity''). \end{itemize}} Such a weight \(w\) is called an optimal Hardy-weight. Using a different approach, the authors established a Hardy inequality with an optimal Hardy weight under the assumption of the existence of certain positive (super)harmonic functions. There are two versions of the result: one for bounded positive (super)harmonic functions and one for unbounded positive (super)harmonic functions.