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Bernard Helffer

Publications and source records attributed to Bernard Helffer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2021

Exponential localization of Steklov eigenfunctions on warped product manifolds: the flea on the elephant phenomenon

This paper is devoted to the analysis of Steklov eigenvalues and Steklov eigenfunctions on a class of warped product Riemannian manifolds $(M,g)$ whose boundary $\partial M$ consists in two distinct connected components $Γ_0$ and $Γ_1$. First, we show that the Steklov eigenvalues can be divided into two families $(λ_m^\pm)_{m \geq 0}$ which satisfy accurate asymptotics as $m \to \infty$. Second, we consider the associated Steklov eigenfunctions which are the harmonic extensions of the boundary Dirichlet to Neumann eigenfunctions. In the case of symmetric warped product, we prove that the Steklov eigenfunctions are exponentially localized on the whole boundary $\partial M$ as $m \to \infty$. Whenever we add an asymmetric perturbation to a symmetric warped product, we observe a flea on the elephant effect. Roughly speaking, we prove that "half" the Steklov eigenfunctions are exponentially localized on one connected component of the boundary, say $Γ_0$, and the other half on the other connected component $Γ_1$ as $m \to \infty$.

math.AP↗
arXiv2021

Spectral flow for pair compatible equipartitions

We show that a recent spectral flow approach proposed by Berkolaiko-Cox-Marzuola for analyzing the nodal deficiency of the nodal partition associated to an eigenfunction can be extended to more general partitions. To be more precise, we work with spectral equipartitions that satisfy a pair compatible condition. Nodal partitions and spectral minimal partitions are examples of such partitions. Along the way, we discuss different approaches to the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operators: via Aharonov-Bohm operators, via a double covering argument, and via a slitting of the domain.

math.SP↗
arXiv2021

Improving semi-groups bounds with resolvent estimates

The purpose of this paper is to revisit the proof of the Gearhardt-Prüss-Hwang-Greiner theorem for a semigroup $S(t)$, following the general idea of the proofs that we have seen in the literature and to get an explicit estimate on $\Vert S(t) \Vert$ in terms of bounds on the resolvent of the generator. A first version of this paper was presented by the two authors in ArXiv (2010) together with applications in semi-classical analysis and a part of these results has been published later in two books written by the authors. Our aim is to present new improvements, partially motivated by a paper of D. Wei. On the way we discuss optimization problems confirming the optimality of our results.

math.OC↗
arXiv2020

On the spectral properties of the Bloch-Torrey equation in infinite periodically perforated domains

We investigate spectral and asymptotic properties of the particular Schrödinger operator (also known as the Bloch-Torrey operator), $-Δ+ i g x$, in infinite periodically perforated domains of $\mathbb R^d$. We consider Dirichlet realizations of this operator and formalize a numerical approach proposed in [J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 53, 325201 (2020)] for studying such operators. In particular, we discuss the existence of the spectrum of this operator and its asymptotic behavior as $g\to \infty$.

math-ph↗
arXiv2020

Courant-sharp property for Dirichlet eigenfunctions on the Möbius strip

The question of determining for which eigenvalues there exists an eigenfunction which has the same number of nodal domains as the label of the associated eigenvalue (Courant-sharp property) was motivated by the analysis of minimal spectral partitions. In previous works, many examples have been analyzed corresponding to squares, rectangles, disks, triangles, tori, \ldots . A natural toy model for further investigations is the Möbius strip, a non-orientable surface with Euler characteristic $0$, and particularly the "square" Möbius strip whose eigenvalues have higher multiplicities. In this case, we prove that the only Courant-sharp Dirichlet eigenvalues are the first and the second, and we exhibit peculiar nodal patterns.

math.SP↗
arXiv2020

Maximal estimates for the Kramers-Fokker-Planck operator with electromagnetic field

In continuation of a former work by the first author with F. Nier (2009) and of a more recent work by the second author on the torus (2019), we consider the Kramers-Fokker-Planck operator (KFP) with an external electromagnetic field on R d. We show a maximal type estimate on this operator using a nilpotent approach for vector field polynomial operators and induced representations of a nilpotent graded Lie algebra. This estimate leads to an optimal characterization of the domain of the closure of the KFP operator and a criterion for the compactness of the resolvent.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

On the spectrum of some Bloch-Torrey vector operators

We consider the Bloch-Torrey operator in $L^2(I,{\mathbb R}^3)$ where $I\subseteq{\mathbb R}$. In contrast with the $L^2(I,{\mathbb R}^2)$ (as well as the $L^2({\mathbb R}^k,{\mathbb R}^2)$) case considered in previous works. We obtain that ${\mathbb R}_+$ is in the continuous spectrum for $I={\mathbb R}$ as well as discrete spectrum outside the real line. For a finite interval we find the left margin of the spectrum. In addition, we prove that the Bloch-Torrey operator must have an essential spectrum for a rather general setup in ${\mathbb R}^k$, and find an effective description for its domain.

math-ph↗
arXiv2020

An Euler-type formula for partitions of the Möbius strip

The purpose of this note is to prove an Euler-type formula for partitions of the Möbius strip. This formula was introduced in our joint paper with R.~Kiwan, "Courant-sharp property for Dirichlet eigenfunctions on the Möbius strip" (arXiv:2005.01175).

math.GT↗
arXiv2020

Magnetic confinement for the 3D Robin Laplacian

We determine accurate asymptotics of the lowest eigenvalue for the Laplace operator with a smooth magnetic field and Robin boundary conditions in a smooth 3D domain, when the Robin parameter tends to $+\infty$. Our results identify a critical regime where the contribution of the magnetic field and the Robin condition are of the same order. In this critical regime, we derive an effective operator defined on the boundary of the domain.

math.SP↗
arXiv2020

Non-boundedness of the number of super level domains of eigenfunctions

Generalizing Courant's nodal domain theorem, the "Extended Courant property" is the statement that a linear combination of the first $n$ eigenfunctions has at most $n$ nodal domains. A related question is to estimate the number of connected components of the (super) level sets of a Neumann eigenfunction $u$. Indeed, in this case, the first eigenfunction is constant, and looking at the level sets of $u$ amounts to looking at the nodal sets $\{u-a=0\}$, where $a$ is a real constant. In the first part of the paper, we prove that the Extended Courant property is false for the subequilateral triangle and for regular $N$-gons ($N$ large), with the Neumann boundary condition. More precisely, we prove that there exists a Neumann eigenfunction $u_k$ of the $N$-gon, with labelling $k$, $4 \le k \le 6$, such that the set $\{u_k \not = 1\}$ has $(N+1)$ connected components. In the second part, we prove that there exists a metric $g$ on $\mathbb{T}^2$ (resp. on $\mathbb{S}^2$), which can be chosen arbitrarily close to the flat metric (resp. round metric), and an eigenfunction $u$ of the associated Laplace-Beltrami operator, such that the set $\{u \not = 1\}$ has infinitely many connected components. In particular the Extended Courant property is false for these closed surfaces. These results are strongly motivated by a recent paper by Buhovsky, Logunov and Sodin. As for the positive direction, in Appendix~B, we prove that the Extended Courant property is true for the isotropic quantum harmonic oscillator in $\mathbb{R}^2$.

math.SP↗
arXiv2020

On the stability of laminar flows between plates

Consider a two-dimensional laminar flow between two plates, so that $(x_1,x_2)\in {\mathbb R} \times[-1,1]$, given by ${\mathbf v}(x_1,x_2)=(U(x_2),0)$, where $U\in C^4([-1,1])$ satisfies $U^\prime\neq0$ in $[-1,1]$. We prove that the flow is linearly stable in the large Reynolds number limit, in two different cases: $\bullet$ $\sup_{x\in[-1,1]} |U"(x)| + \sup_{x\in[-1,1]} |U"(x)| \ll \min_{x\in[-1,1]}|U^\prime(x)|$ (nearly Couette flows), $\bullet$ $U^{\prime\prime}\neq0$ in $[-1,1]$. We assume either no-slip or fixed traction force conditions on the plates, and an arbitrary large (but much smaller than the Reynolds number) period in the $x_1$ direction.

math-ph↗
arXiv2019

On Courant's nodal domain property for linear combinations of eigenfunctions, Part II

Generalizing Courant's nodal domain theorem, the "Extended Courant property" is the statement that a linear combination of the first $n$ eigenfunctions has at most $n$ nodal domains. In a previous paper (Documenta Mathematica, 2018, Vol. 23, pp. 1561--1585), we gave simple counterexamples to this property, including convex domains. In the present paper, using some input from numerical computations, we pursue the investigation of the Extended Courant property with two new examples, the equilateral rhombus and the regular hexagon.

math.SP↗
arXiv2019

Level sets of certain Neumann eigenfunctions under deformation of Lipschitz domains. Application to the Extended Courant Property

In this paper, we prove that the Extended Courant Property fails to be true for certain smooth, strictly convex domains with Neumann boundary condition: there exists a linear combination of a second and a first Neumann eigenfunctions, with three nodal domains. For the proof, we revisit a deformation argument of Jerison and Nadirashvili (J. Amer. Math. Soc. 2000, vol. 13). This argument being interesting in itself, we give full details. In particular, we carefully control the dependence of the constants on the geometry of our Lipschitz domains along the deformations.

math.SP↗
arXiv2019

Thin domain limit and counterexamples to strong diamagnetism

We study the magnetic Laplacian and the Ginzburg-Landau functional in a thin planar, smooth, tubular domain and with a uniform applied magnetic field. We provide counterexamples to strong diamagnetism, and as a consequence, we prove that the transition from the superconducting to the normal state is non-monotone. In some non-linear regime, we determine the structure of the order parameter and compute the super-current along the boundary of the sample. Our results are in agreement with what was observed in the Little-Parks experiment, for a thin cylindrical sample.

math.AP↗
arXiv2019

Courant-sharp Robin eigenvalues for the square -- the case with small Robin parameter--

This article is the continuation of our first work on the determination of the cases where there is equality in Courant's Nodal Domain theorem in the case of a Robin boundary condition (with Robin parameter $h$). For the square, our first paper focused on the case where $h$ is large and extended results that were obtained by Pleijel, Bérard--Helffer, for the problem with a Dirichlet boundary condition. There, we also obtained some general results about the behaviour of the nodal structure (for planar domains) under a small deformation of $h$, where $h$ is positive and not close to $0$. In this second paper, we extend results that were obtained by Helffer--Persson-Sundqvist for the Neumann problem to the case where $h>0$ is small.

math.SP↗
arXiv2019

On the multiplicity of the second eigenvalue of the Laplacian in non simply connected domains--with some numerics--

We revisit an interesting example proposed by Maria Hoffmann-Ostenhof, the second author and Nikolai Nadirashvili of a bounded domain in R2 for which the second eigenvalue of the Dirichlet Laplacian has multiplicity three. We also analyze carefully the first eigenvalues of the Laplacian in the case of the disk with two symmetric cracks placed on a smaller concentric disk in function of their size.

math.SP↗
arXiv2019

Courant-sharp Robin eigenvalues for the square and other planar domains

This paper is devoted to the determination of the cases where there is equality in Courant's nodal domain theorem in the case of a Robin boundary condition. For the square, we partially extend the results that were obtained by Pleijel, Bérard--Helffer, Helffer--Persson--Sundqvist for the Dirichlet and Neumann problems. After proving some general results that hold for any value of the Robin parameter $h$, we focus on the case when $h$ is large. We hope to come back to the analysis when $h$ is small in a second paper. We also obtain some semi-stability results for the number of nodal domains of a Robin eigenfunction of a domain with $C^{2,α}$ boundary ($α>0$) as $h$ large varies.

math.SP↗