Sharp comparison theorems for the Klein--Gordon equation in d dimensions

Abstract: We establish sharp (or `refined') comparison theorems for the Klein--Gordon equation. We show that the condition

V_{a} l e V_{b}

, which leads to

E_{a} l e E_{b}

, can be replaced by the weaker assumption

U_{a} l e U_{b}

which still implies the spectral ordering

E_{a} l e E_{b}

. In the simplest case, for

d = 1

,

U_{i} (x) = i n t_{0}^{x} V_{i} (t) d t

,

i = a

or

b

, and for

d > 1

,

U_{i} (r) = i n t_{0}^{r} V_{i} (t) t^{d - 1} d t

,

i = a

or

b

. We also consider sharp comparison theorems in the presence of a scalar potential

S

(a `variable mass') in addition to the vector term

V

(the time component of a

4

-vector). The theorems are illustrated by a variety of explicit detailed examples.

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