The emergence of eigenvalues of a \(\mathcal{PT}\)-symmetric operator in a thin strip (Q268098)

The author studies a class of Schrödinger operators in dimension two, \(\mathcal{H}_\varepsilon := - \Delta_x + V_\varepsilon\) with \(V_\varepsilon (x) := V(x_1, \frac{x_2}{\varepsilon})\) defined in a thin infinite strip \(\Omega_\varepsilon := \{ x \in \mathbb R^2 \;| \;0<x_2< \varepsilon \}\). The \(\mathcal{PT}\)-symmetric boundary conditions are given by \(( \frac{\partial}{\partial x_2} + i \alpha ) u = 0\) on \(\partial \Omega_\varepsilon\) where \(\alpha\) is a non zero constant. By defining \(V_0 (x_1) := \int_0^1 V(x_1, \xi) d\xi\) and the efficient operator \(\mathcal{H}_0 := - \frac{d^2}{dx^2} + V_0 + \alpha^2\), the assumption of a virtual level on the threshold \(\alpha^2\) is given by the existence of a nontrivial bounded solution on \(\mathbb R\) for the equation \((- \frac{d^2}{dx^2} + V_0) \psi_0 = 0\). The main result of the paper shows sufficient conditions for the transformation of this level into an isolated eigenvalue, and the first terms of the asymptotic expansion are calculated. Moreover, sufficient conditions for the absence of such an eigenvalue are also obtained. More in details, by defining \[ k_1 := - \alpha \int_{\mathbb R \times [0,1]} \Big(\xi - \frac{1}{2}\Big) \, \psi_0^2 (x_1) \, \mathrm{Im } V(x_1,\xi) \;dx_1 d\xi \] it is shown that if \(k_1 > 0\) then there is a unique eigenvalue \(\lambda_\varepsilon\) of the operator \(\mathcal{H}_\varepsilon\) converging to \(\alpha^2\) as \(\varepsilon \to 0^+\). This eigenvalue is real and simple, and its asymptotics has the form \[ \lambda_{\varepsilon} = \alpha^2 - \varepsilon^2 k_1^2 + \mathcal{O}(\varepsilon^3). \] If either \(k_1< 0\) or there is no virtual level on the threshold of the essential spectrum of the operator \(\mathcal{H}_0\) then the operator \(\mathcal{H}_\varepsilon\) has no eigenvalues converging to \(\alpha^2\) as \(\varepsilon \to 0^+\).