Accumulation of complex eigenvalues of an indefinite Sturm-Liouville operator with a shifted Coulomb potential (Q2807246)

For the potential \(V(x) := - \gamma/(1 + |x|)\) with \(\gamma > 0\) the maximal operator \(T_\gamma := - d^2/dx^2 + V(x)\) defined in \(L^2({\mathbb R})\) is self-adjoint. However, the authors are more interested in the indefinite operator \(A_\gamma := J T_\gamma\) where \(J\) is the operator of multiplication with sign\((x)\). In fact, taken as a fundamental symmetry, \(J\) induces a Krein space structure on \(L^2({\mathbb R})\) such that \(A_\gamma\) is \(J\)-self-adjoint. Then, the spectrum of \(A_\gamma\) needs not to be real but must be symmetric w.r.t. \({\mathbb R}\) and, since \(V(-x) = V(x)\) also w.r.t. \(i{\mathbb R}\). In the recent years the non-real spectrum of such operators with more general potentials \(V\) were studied intensively. In the concrete setting of the present paper rather explicit formulas for the non-real eigenvalues of \(A_\gamma\) (accumulating only at \(0\)) are obtained. As the main result, it turns out that the non-real eigenvalues lie asymptotically on the complex curves \(|\)Im \(\mu| = \Upsilon(\gamma) |\mathrm{Re } \mu|^{3/2} + O((\mathrm{Re } \mu)^2)\) \((\mu \rightarrow 0)\) with an explicitly given real constant \(\Upsilon(\gamma)\) involving Bessel functions. Furthermore, the non-real eigenvalues \(\mu_n\) in the first quadrant can be calculated asymptotically in terms of the negative eigenvalues \(-\lambda_n^D\) as well as \(-\lambda_n^N\) of the ``restrictions'' of \(T_\gamma\) to \((0,\infty)\) subject to Dirichlet and, respectively, Neumann boundary conditions at \(0\). As another result, also asymptotic formulas for \(\lambda_n^D\) and \(\lambda_n^N\) are presented. Additionally, illustrative pictures of numerically calculated eigenvalues for certain values of \(\gamma\) are plotted. Finally, the setting is generalized to a potential with different values of \(\gamma\) on \((0, \infty)\) and on \((-\infty,0)\).