Inverse problems for differential operators of any order on trees (Q948568)

The Weyl-matrix or M-matrix inverse problem is the key inverse spectral problem, in that from it one can easily solve the multiple spectrum inverse problem and the spectrum and norming constant inverse problem. In this paper, the author considers a sectorial nth order boundary value problem on a tree with unit length edges. It is shown that the coefficients of \(y,\dots,y^{(n-2)}\) in the differential equation can be uniquely reconstructed from the Weyl M-matrix for this boundary value problem. The inverse problem is solved by first solving local inverse problems on each edge. Two aspects of this work are of particular interest: nth order problems are considered; and the operators considered need not be self-adjoint. For similar results but for self-adjoint second order operators on general graphs the reader should see: [\textit{S. Currie} and \textit{B. A. Watson}, The M-matrix inverse problem for the Sturm-Liouville equation on graphs. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 139A, No. 4, (2009) (in press)] and for self-adjoint second order systems: [\textit{D. Chelkak} and \textit{E. Korotyaev}, Weyl-Titchmarsh functions of vector-valued Sturm-Liouville operators on the unit interval, Journal of Functional Analysis (in press)].