Scattering frequencies for the wave equation with a potential term (Q791767)

In this paper we consider the perturbed wave equation (1) \(\square u+q(x)u=0\) in \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\times {\mathbb{R}} (n=odd\geq 3)\) where the ''impurity'' q(x) is a (real-valued) \(C^{\infty}\) compactly supported function which may assume negative values. We prove the existence of infinitely many ''scattering frequencies'' on the imaginary axis. This result extends (partially) the one obtained by \textit{P. Lax} and \textit{R. Phillips} in Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 22, 737-787 (1969; Zbl 0181.382), where q(x) was considered non-negative. We use the main ideas of the above reference, but we analyze in more detail the operators involved. As a consequence, most of the proofs are more transparent and give hopes of possible extensions. No asymptotic properties of elliptic equations are used.