Sturm intersection theory for periodic Jacobi matrices and linear Hamiltonian systems (Q649551)

The author studies Sturm-Liouville oscillation theory for periodic Jacobi operators with matrix entries, which was considered by \textit{H. Schulz-Baldes} [Math. Phys. Electron. J. 13, Paper No. 5, 40 p. (2007; Zbl 1141.15024)]. The author uses a technique that can be applied to Hamiltonian systems and thus provides an alternative proof of the result of \textit{R. Boot} [Commun. Pure Appl.Math. 9, 171--206 (1956; Zbl 0074.17202)]. By this proof the author shows that the use of intersection theory of \textit{R. Boot} [lo. cit.], \textit{V. P. Maslov} [Ed. of Univ. Moscow, (1965)] and \textit{C. E. Conley} and \textit{E. Zehnder} [Commun. Pure Appl.Math. 37, 207--253 (1978; Zbl 0559.58019)] can be simplified and clarified. Moreover, the author shows that the eigenvalue problem for linear Hamiltonian systems can be solved based on the same approach.