On the Friedrichs model in one-velocity transport theory (Q5951277)

The transport equation, in its first approximation, generates the operator \(L=i\mu(\partial/ \partial x)+(i/2) c(x)\int^1_{-1}\). \(d\mu\), on the space \(L^2(R\times [-1,1])\), with domain consisting of all functions \(\psi (\cdot,\mu)\), absolutely continuous for almost all \(\mu\in[-1,1]\), such that \(L\psi\in L^2\). The study of spectral properties of the operator \(L\) is the main objective of the author. Conditions are provided on \(c(x)\), assuring the fact that eigenvalues are isolated and of finite multiplicity. It is also shown, under appropriate conditions on \(c(x)\), that the point spectrum of \(L\) is finite, while the total multiplicity of eigenvalues is estimated in terms of \(c(x)\). The problem of the ``birth of new eigenvalues'' is also discussed.