Inverse problem for a differential operator with nonseparated boundary conditions (Q721826)

Boundary value problems are considered for the differential equation \[ y^{(4)}+p_2(x)y''+p_1(x)y'+p_0(x)y=\lambda y,\; x\in (0,1) \eqno(1) \] with non-separated boundary conditions. The authors study the inverse problem of recovering coefficients of the boundary conditions from the given eigenvalues provided that the functions \(p_0(x), p_1(x)\) and \(p_2(x)\) are known a priori. Uniqueness theorems (Theorems 1 and 2) are formulated for this class of inverse problems. Regrettably, these theorems 1 and 2 are wrong. The reason is that the authors incorrectly use Leibenson's uniqueness result for Eq. (1), because the specification of the considered spectral data does not uniquely determine the operator. The correct statement and solution of the inverse spectral problem for arbitrary order differential operators are presented in [\textit{V. Yurko}, Method of spectral mappings in the inverse problem theory. Utrecht: VSP (2002; Zbl 1098.34008)].