Dynamics of the quasi-periodic Schrödinger cocycle at the lowest energy in the spectrum (Q2466818)

The author considers the projectivization \(\Phi_E\) of the quasiperiodic Schrödinger cocycle \[ S_E:(\theta,x):T^d\times\mathbb R^2\to (\theta+\omega, -x_1+(\lambda^2 V(\theta)-E+1)x_2)\in T^d\times\mathbb R^2 \] where \(x=(x_1,x_2)\in\mathbb R^2\). Here \(V\) is a continuous function, \(d\geq 1\), and the entries of the frequency vector \(\omega\in\mathbb T^d\) are rationally independent with 1. The real constant \(\lambda> 0\) is introduced as a coupling constant. The defined mapping induces the Schrödinger operator \(H_\theta\) acting on \(\ell^2(Z)\). The behavior of the map \(\Phi_E\) at the lowest energy \(E_0\) in the spectrum of the Schrödinger operator is investigated. Basically, the paper is devoted to a question posted in [\textit{M. R. Herman}, Comment. Math. Helv. 58, 453--502 (1983; Zbl 0554.58034)] concerning the geometric structure of certain strange nonchaotic attractors which appear in the projective dynamical system \(\Phi_E\). In the regime of large coupling constants and Diophantine frequencies, an affirmative answer to the mentioned question is given. It is also shown that for some phase, the lowest energy in the spectrum of the associated Schrödinger operator is an eigenvalue with an exponentially decaying eigenfunction. Note that the presented proof is constructive and technical.