Gantmacher--Kreĭn theorem for 2 nonnegative operators in spaces of functions (Q2491435)

Summary: The existence of the second (according to the module) eigenvalue \(\lambda _{2}\) of a completely continuous nonnegative operator \(A\) is proved under the conditions that \(A\) acts in the space \(L_{p}(\Omega )\) or \(C(\Omega )\) and its exterior square \(A\wedge A\) is also nonnegative. For the case when the operators \(A\) and \(A\wedge A\) are indecomposable, the simplicity of the first and second eigenvalues is proved, and the interrelation between the indices of imprimitivity of \(A\) and \(A\wedge A\) is examined. For the case when \(A\) and \(A\wedge A\) are primitive, the difference (according to the module) of \(\lambda _{1}\) and \(\lambda _{2}\) from each other and from other eigenvalues is proved.