Spectral properties of a differential system

Abstract

The spectrum of the differential operators associated with the differential system u' = ((r)(D)(D p)) u, Dy = -y'' qy on L-2([0,infinity)) is determined. For this the coefficients are assumed to satisfy rather general properties which combine smoothness and decay. With this the asymptotics of the eigenfunctions can be determined. This in turn leads to properties of the spectra with the aid of the M-matrix. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.