arXiv · 1110.5373
Nodal count of graph eigenfunctions via magnetic perturbation
Abstract
We establish a connection between the stability of an eigenvalue under a magnetic perturbation and the number of zeros of the corresponding eigenfunction. Namely, we consider an eigenfunction of discrete Laplacian on a graph and count the number of edges where the eigenfunction changes sign (has a "zero"). It is known that the $n$-th eigenfunction has $n-1+s$ such zeros, where the "nodal surplus" $s$ is an integer between 0 and the number of cycles on the graph. We then perturb the Laplacian by a weak magnetic field and view the $n$-th eigenvalue as a function of the perturbation. It is shown that this function has a critical point at the zero field and that the Morse index of the critical point is equal to the nodal surplus $s$ of the $n$-th eigenfunction of the unperturbed graph.
Explore related subjects
Keep this discovery
Gregory Berkolaiko. 2011-10-24. Nodal count of graph eigenfunctions via magnetic perturbation. https://doi.org/10.2140/apde.2013.6.1213
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.