Dispersive estimate for the 1D Schrödinger equation with a steplike potential (Q652495)

Let \(f\in L^1({\mathbb R})\) and assume that the potential \(V:{\mathbb R}\rightarrow {\mathbb R}\) satisfies \((1+x^2)V(x)\in L^1({\mathbb R})\). Let \(V_0\) be a piecewise constant function equal to \(V_+\) on \((0,\infty)\) and to \(V_-\) on \((-\infty ,0)\). Let \(u(t,x)\) be the solution of the Schrödinger equation \[ iu_t-u_{xx}+V_0u+V(x)u=0,\qquad u(0,x)=f(x). \] The main result of the present paper establishes that \(u(t,x)\) satisfies the dispersive estimate \[ |P_{ac}u(t,x)|\leq C\, \| f\|_{L^1}\cdot |t|^{-1/2}. \] The proof combines a careful analysis of both high frequencies and low frequencies. The low frequency part is more difficult to estimate, and requires some rather precise information on the asymptotic behaviour of the Jost solutions for the corresponding Helmholtz equation.