Completeness theorem for the system of eigenfunctions of the complex Schrödinger operator \(\mathscr{L}_{c , \alpha} = - d^2 / d x^2 + c x^\alpha \) (Q2669938)

Consider the complex Schrödinger operator \({\mathcal L}_{c,\alpha} = - d^2/dx^2 + c x^\alpha\) with \(c \in {\mathbb C}\), \(|\arg c| < \pi\) and \(\alpha > 0\) on the half line \({\mathbb R}_+\) subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions. It is known that \({\mathcal L}_{c,\alpha}\) has discrete spectrum and the eigenvalues are simple (i.e. the root subspaces are one-dimensional). Of course, \({\mathcal L}_{c,\alpha}\) is not self-adjoint for \(0 < |\arg c| < \pi\) due to the non-real potential. It is not even similar to a self-adjoint operator and the eigenfunctions do not form a Riesz basis in \(L_2({\mathbb R}_+)\). However, one may ask the question whether the system of eigenfunctions is complete in \(L_2({\mathbb R}_+)\). During the recent years this question was answered with ``yes'' for particular cases: first for \(\alpha \geq 2\) and then also for \(0 < \alpha < 2\) and \(|\arg c| < 2 \pi \alpha/(\alpha + 2) =: t_0(\alpha)\). Unfortunately, these results do not cover the operators \({\mathcal L}_{i,\alpha}\) with \(0 < \alpha \leq 2/3\) (since \(t_0(2/3) = \pi/2\)) which are of particular interest. The present paper extends the positive answer to a certain area beyond \(t_0\). More precisely, a continuous function \(\theta_0\) on \((0,2)\) with \(t_0(\alpha) < \theta_0(\alpha) < \pi\) is constructed such that the system of eigenfunctions of \({\mathcal L}_{c,\alpha}\) is complete in \(L_2({\mathbb R}_+)\) for \(|\arg c| < \theta_0(\alpha)\). Now, by the continuity of \(\theta_0\) the completeness statement for \({\mathcal L}_{i,\alpha}\) is clear for all \(\alpha > \alpha_0\) with some \(\alpha_0 \in (0, 2/3)\).