Some remarks on bounds to eigenvalues of Sturm-Liouville problems with discontinuous coefficients (Q762673)

It is the objective of this paper to make clear that Rayleigh's quotients can yield upper bounds for the eigenvalues of problems with large discontinuities which are as accurate as those obtained for systems with continuous coefficients. The only requirement is that the trial functions be allowed to have arbitrary jump discontinuities across the interfaces where the coefficients change abruptly. As a specific example a Sturm- Liouville problem is studied, which arises in heat conduction in a layered composite: \((\kappa u')'+\lambda cu=0\), \(0<x<1\), \(u(0)=0\), \(u(1)=0\), \(u_-=u_+\) at \(x=x_ 1,x_ 2,...,x_ n\), \(\kappa_+u'\!_+=\kappa_-u^-_-\) at \(x=x_ 1,x_ 2,...,x_ n\), where \(0<1/K\leq \kappa (x)\), c(x)\(\leq K\); \(\kappa\) (x) and c(x) have step discontinuities at \(x_ 1,...,x_ n\in (0,1)\). Furthermore it is assumed that the eigenvalue problem admits an infinite set of distinct eigenvalues \(0<\lambda_ 1<\lambda_ 2<... \).