Sparse Schrödinger Operators (Q4342170)

The author introduces a family of \((P\)-sparse Schrödinger) operators \((H^p_x)\) defined on \(\ell^2 (\mathbb{Z})\) associated with the dynamical system \(\tau= (T,X, {\mathcal B}, \mu)\), and indexed by a nonnegative integer \(p\): \[ (H^p_xu)(n) =u(n-p)+ u(n+p) +V_x(n) u(n), \quad \forall n\in \mathbb{Z} \quad \text{and} \quad \forall u\in\ell^2 (\mathbb{Z}). \] \(X\) is a compact metrizable space, \(B\) denotes the \(\sigma\)-algebra of Borel sets of \(X,\mu\) is a probability measure on \(X\) and \(T:X\to X\) is an automorphism of \(X\), preserving the measure \(\mu\). The potential \(V_x(n)= f(T^nx)\) where \(f\) is a measurable bounded map on \(X\) to \(\mathbb{R}\). The paper begins with setting up notations and terminology of dynamical systems, spectral theory and random operators. Next, \(\ell^2 (\mathbb{Z})\) is decomposed in a direct sum of orthogonal subspaces, which are stable under each \(H^p_x\). This permits one to study \(p\) classical discrete one-dimensional Schrödinger operators associated with \(H^p_x\). The latter parts are devoted to special cases of potentials: (i) the periodic case: \(X= \mathbb{Z}/N \mathbb{Z}\) \((N\) a nonnegative integer), (ii) the random case and (iii) the case of substitutional potential. It is shown that in some particular cases the spectrum does not change with \(p\).