arXiv subjects

Lance L. Littlejohn

Publications and source records attributed to Lance L. Littlejohn.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Carl Størmer and his Numbers

In many proofs of Fermat's Two Squares Theorem, the smallest least residue solution $x_0$ of the quadratic congruence $x^2 \equiv -1 \bmod p$ plays an essential role; here $p$ is prime and $p \equiv 1 \bmod 4$. Such an $x_0$ is called a Størmer number, named after the Norwegian mathematician and astronomer Carl Størmer (1874-1957). In this paper, we establish necessary and sufficient conditions for $x_0 \in \mathbb{N}$ to be a Størmer number of some prime $p \equiv 1 \bmod 4$. Størmer's main interest in his investigations of Størmer numbers stemmed from his study of identities expressing $π$ as finite linear combinations of certain values of the Gregory-MacLaurin series for $\arctan(1/x)$. Since less than 600 digits of $π$ were known by 1900, approximating $π$ was an important topic. One such identity, discovered by Størmer in 1896, was used by Yasumasa Kanada and his team in 2002 to obtain 1.24 trillion digits of $π$. We also discuss Størmer's work on connecting these numbers to Gregory numbers and approximations of $π$.

math.HO↗

arXiv2025

Some Remarks on the Product Formula for Defect Numbers of Closed Operators

This largely pedagogical paper recalls some facts on defect numbers of products of closed operators employing results from the theory of semi-Fredholm operators and then applies these facts to positive integer powers of symmetric operators and subsequently to certain minimal Sturm--Liouville and minimal higher even-order ordinary and partial differential operators. We also point out some unexpected missed opportunities when comparing the work of different groups on this subject.

math.FA↗

arXiv2023

The Jacobi operator on $(-1,1)$ and its various $m$-functions

We offer a detailed treatment of spectral and Weyl-Titchmarsh-Kodaira theory for all self-adjoint Jacobi operator realizations of the differential expression \begin{align*} τ_{α,β} = - (1-x)^{-α} (1+x)^{-β}(d/dx) \big((1-x)^{α+1}(1+x)^{β+1}\big) (d/dx),& \\ α, β\in \mathbb{R}, \; x \in (-1,1),& \end{align*} in $L^2\big((-1,1); (1-x)^α (1+x)^β dx\big)$, $α, β\in \mathbb{R}$. In addition to discussing the separated boundary conditions that lead to Jacobi orthogonal polynomials as eigenfunctions in detail, we exhaustively treat the case of coupled boundary conditions and illustrate the latter with the help of the general $η$-periodic and Krein--von Neumann extensions. In particular, we treat all underlying Weyl-Titchmarsh-Kodaira and Green's function induced $m$-functions and revisit their Nevanlinna-Herglotz property. We also consider connections to other differential operators associated with orthogonal polynomials such as Laguerre, Gegenbauer, and Chebyshev.

math.CA↗

arXiv2022

The Krein-von Neumann extension revisited

We revisit the Krein-von Neumann extension in the case where the underlying symmetric operator is strictly positive and apply this to derive the explicit form of the Krein-von Neumann extension for singular, general (i.e., three-coefficient) Sturm-Liouville operators on arbitrary intervals. In particular, the boundary conditions for the Krein-von Neumann extension of the strictly positive minimal Sturm-Liouville operator are explicitly expressed in terms of generalized boundary values adapted to the (possible) singularity structure of the coefficients near an interval endpoint.

math.FA↗

arXiv2021

Left-Definite Variations of the Classical Fourier Expansion Theorem, Part II

In 2002, Littlejohn and Wellman developed a general left-definite theory for arbitrary self-adjoint operators in a Hilbert space that are bounded below by a positive constant. Zettl and Littlejohn, in 2005, applied this general theory to the classical second-order Fourier operator with periodic boundary boundary conditions. In this paper, we construct sequences of left-definite Hilbert spaces $\{H_{n}\}_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ and left-definite self-adjoint operators $\{A_{n}\}_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ associated with the Fourier operator with semi-periodic boundary conditions. We obtain explicit formulas for the domain of the square root of the self-adjoint operator $A$ obtained from this boundary value problem as well as explicit representations of the domains $\mathcal{D}(A^{n/2})$ for all positive integers $n$. Furthermore, a Fourier expansion theorem is given in each left-definite space $H_{n}$.

math.CA↗

arXiv2021

Donoghue $m$-functions for singular Sturm--Liouville operators

Let $\dot A$ be a densely defined, closed, symmetric operator in the complex, separable Hilbert space $\mathcal{H}$ with equal deficiency indices and denote by $\mathcal{N}_i = \ker \big(\big(\dot A\big)^* - i I_{\mathcal{H}}\big)$, $\dim \, (\mathcal{N}_i)=k\in \mathbb{N} \cup \{\infty\}$, the associated deficiency subspace of $\dot A$ . If $A$ denotes a self-adjoint extension of $\dot A$ in $\mathcal{H}$, the Donoghue $m$-operator $M_{A,\mathcal{N}_i}^{Do} (\, \cdot \,)$ in $\mathcal{N}_i$ associated with the pair $(A,\mathcal{N}_i)$ is given by \[ M_{A,\mathcal{N}_i}^{Do}(z)=zI_{\mathcal{N}_i} + (z^2+1) P_{\mathcal{N}_i} (A - z I_{\mathcal{H}})^{-1} P_{\mathcal{N}_i} \big\vert_{\mathcal{N}_i}\,, \quad z\in \mathbb{C} \backslash \mathbb{R}, \] with $I_{\mathcal{N}_i}$ the identity operator in $\mathcal{N}_i$, and $P_{\mathcal{N}_i}$ the orthogonal projection in $\mathcal{H}$ onto $\mathcal{N}_i$. Assuming the standard local integrability hypotheses on the coefficients $p, q,r$, we study all self-adjoint realizations corresponding to the differential expression \[ τ=\frac{1}{r(x)}\left[-\frac{d}{dx}p(x)\frac{d}{dx} + q(x)\right] \, \text{ for a.e. $x\in(a,b) \subseteq \mathbb{R}$,} \] in $L^2((a,b); rdx)$, and, as the principal aim of this paper, systematically construct the associated Donoghue $m$-functions (resp., $2 \times 2$ matrices) in all cases where $τ$ is in the limit circle case at least at one interval endpoint $a$ or $b$.

math.SP↗

arXiv2020

A Sequence of Weighted Birman-Hardy-Rellich Inequalities with Logarithmic Refinements

The principal aim of this paper is to extend Birman's sequence of integral inequalities originally obtained in 1961, and containing Hardy's and Rellich's inequality as special cases, to a sequence of inequalities that incorporates power weights on either side and logarithmic refinements on the right-hand side of the inequality as well. Our new technique of proof for this sequence of inequalities relies on a combination of transforms originally due to Hartman and Müller-Pfeiffer. The results obtained considerably improve on prior results in the literature.

math.CA↗

arXiv2020

On self-adjoint boundary conditions for singular Sturm-Liouville operators bounded from below

We extend the classical boundary values \begin{align*} & g(a) = - W(u_{a}(λ_0,.), g)(a) = \lim_{x \downarrow a} \frac{g(x)}{\hat u_{a}(λ_0,x)}, \\ &g^{[1]}(a) = (p g')(a) = W(\hat u_{a}(λ_0,.), g)(a) = \lim_{x \downarrow a} \frac{g(x) - g(a) \hat u_{a}(λ_0,x)}{u_{a}(λ_0,x)} \end{align*} for regular Sturm-Liouville operators associated with differential expressions of the type $τ= r(x)^{-1}[-(d/dx)p(x)(d/dx) + q(x)]$ for a.e. $x\in[a,b] \subset \mathbb{R}$, to the case where $τ$ is singular on $(a,b) \subseteq \mathbb{R}$ and the associated minimal operator $T_{min}$ is bounded from below. Here $u_a(λ_0, \cdot)$ and $\hat u_a(λ_0, \cdot)$ denote suitably normalized principal and nonprincipal solutions of $τu = λ_0 u$ for appropriate $λ_0 \in \mathbb{R}$, respectively. We briefly discuss the singular Weyl-Titchmarsh-Kodaira $m$-function and finally illustrate the theory in some detail with the examples of the Bessel, Legendre, and Kummer (resp., Laguerre) operators.

math.SP↗

arXiv2019

On Birman's sequence of Hardy-Rellich-type inequalities

In 1961, Birman proved a sequence of inequalities $\{I_{n}\},$ for $n\in\mathbb{N},$ valid for functions in $C_0^{n}((0,\infty))\subset L^{2}((0,\infty)).$ In particular, $I_{1}$ is the classical (integral) Hardy inequality and $I_{2}$ is the well-known Rellich inequality. In this paper, we give a proof of this sequence of inequalities valid on a certain Hilbert space $H_{n}([0,\infty))$ of functions defined on $[0,\infty).$ Moreover, $f\in H_{n}([0,\infty))$ implies $f^{\prime}\in H_{n-1}([0,\infty));$ as a consequence of this inclusion, we see that the classical Hardy inequality implies each of the inequalities in Birman's sequence. We also show that for any finite $b>0,$ these inequalities hold on the standard Sobolev space $H_0^{n}((0,b))$. Furthermore, in all cases, the Birman constants $[(2n-1)!!]^{2}/2^{2n}$ in these inequalities are sharp and the only function that gives equality in any of these inequalities is the trivial function in $L^{2}((0,\infty))$ (resp., $L^2((0,b))$). We also show that these Birman constants are related to the norm of a generalized continuous Cesàro averaging operator whose spectral properties we determine in detail.

math.SP↗

arXiv2019

On Weighted Hardy-Type Inequalities

We revisit weighted Hardy-type inequalities employing an elementary ad hoc approach that yields explicit constants. We also discuss the infinite sequence of power weighted Birman-Hardy-Rellich-type inequalities and derive an operator-valued version thereof.

math.CA↗

arXiv2017

Differential operator for discrete Gegenbauer--Sobolev orthogonal polynomials: eigenvalues and asymptotics

We consider the following discrete Sobolev inner product involving the Gegenbauer weight $$(f,g)_S:=\int_{-1}^1f(x)g(x)(1-x^2)^αdx+M\big[f^{(j)}(-1)g^{(j)}(-1)+f^{(j)}(1)g^{(j)}(1)\big],$$ where $α>-1,$ $j\in \mathbb{N}\cup \{0\},$ and $M>0.$ Let $\{Q_n^{(α,M,j)}\}_{n\geq0}$ be the sequence of orthogonal polynomials with respect to the above inner product. These polynomials are eigenfunctions of a differential operator $\mathbf{T}. $ We establish the asymptotic behavior of the corresponding eigenvalues. Furthermore, we calculate the exact value $$r_0 = \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty}\frac{\log \left(\max_{x\in [-1,1]} |\widetilde{Q}_n^{(α,M,j)}(x)|\right)}{\log \widetildeλ_n},$$ where $\{\widetilde{Q}_n^{(α,M,j)}\}_{n\geq0}$ are the sequence of orthonormal polynomials with respect to this Sobolev inner product. This value $r_0$ is related to the convergence of a series in a left--definite space. Finally, we study the Mehler--Heine type asymptotics for $\{Q_n^{(α,M,j)}\}_{n\geq0}.$

math.CA↗

arXiv2015

Glazman-Krein-Naimark Theory, Left-Definite Theory and the Square of the Legendre Polynomials Differential Operator

As an application of a general left-definite spectral theory, Everitt, Littlejohn and Wellman, in 2002, developed the left-definite theory associated with the classical Legendre self-adjoint second-order differential operator $A$ in $L^{2}(-1,1)$ which has the Legendre polynomials $\{P_{n}% \}_{n=0}^{\infty}$ as eigenfunctions. As a consequence, they explicitly determined the domain $\mathcal{D}(A^{2})$ of the self-adjoint operator $A^{2}.$ However, this domain, in their characterization, does not contain boundary conditions. In fact, this is a general feature of the left-definite approach developed by Littlejohn and Wellman. Yet, the square of the second-order Legendre expression is in the limit-4 case at each end point $x=\pm1$ in $L^{2}(-1,1)$ so $\mathcal{D}(A^{2})$ should exhibit four boundary conditions. In this paper, we show that this domain can, in fact, be expressed using four separated boundary conditions using the classical GKN (Glazman-Krein-Naimark) theory. In addition, we determine a new characterization of $\mathcal{D}(A^{2})$ that involves four \textit{non-GKN} boundary conditions. These new boundary conditions are surprisingly simple - and natural - and are equivalent to the boundary conditions obtained from the GKN theory.

math.SP↗

arXiv2014

On the asymptotic normality of the Legendre-Stirling numbers of the second kind

For the Legendre-Stirling numbers of the second kind asymptotic formulae are derived in terms of a local central limit theorem. Thereby, supplements of the recently published asymptotic analysis of the Chebyshev-Stirling numbers are established. Moreover, we provide results on the asymptotic normality and unimodality for modified Legendre-Stirling numbers.

math.CA↗

arXiv2014

A New Class of Exceptional Orthogonal Polynomials: The Type III $X_{m}$-Laguerre Polynomials And The Spectral Analysis of Three Types of Exceptional Laguerre Polynomials

The Bochner Classification Theorem (1929) characterizes the polynomial sequences $\p_{n}\}_{n=0}^{\infty}$, with $\text{deg}\,p_{n}=n$ that simultaneously form a complete set of eigenstates for a second-order differential operator and are orthogonal with respect to a positive Borel measure having finite moments of all orders. Indeed, up to a complex linear change of variable, only the classical Hermite, Laguerre, and Jacobi polynomials satisfy these conditions. In 2009, Gómez-Ullate, Kamran, and Milson found that for sequences $\{p_{n}\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$, $\text{deg}\,p_{n}=n$ (without the constant polynomial), the only such sequences are the exceptional $X_{1}$-Laguerre and $X_{1}$-Jacobi polynomials. Subsequently, other exceptional orthogonal polynomials $\{p_{n}\}_{n\in\mathbb{N}_{0}\diagdown A}$ were discovered and studied (here $A$ is a finite subset of the non-negative integers $\mathbb{N}_{0}$ and $\text{deg}\,p_{n}=n$ for all $n\in\mathbb{N}_{0}\diagdown A$). We call such a sequence an exceptional $X_{\left\vert A\right\vert}$ sequence. Remarkably, all exceptional sequences found, to date, form a complete orthogonal set in their natural Hilbert space setting. Among the exceptional sets already known are the Type I and Type II $X_{m}$-Laguerre polynomials, each omitting $m$ polynomials. We briefly discuss these polynomials and construct self-adjoint operators generated by their corresponding second-order differential expressions in appropriate Hilbert spaces. In addition, we present a new Type III family of $X_{m}$-Laguerre polynomials along with a detailed disquisition of its properties. We include several representations of these polynomials, orthogonality, norms, completeness, the location of their local extrema and roots, root asymptotics, as well as the spectral study of the second-order Type III exceptional $X_{m}$-Laguerre differential expression.

math.SP↗

arXiv2014

A Spectral Study of the Second-Order Exceptional $X_1$-Jacobi Differential Expression and a Related Non-classical Jacobi Differential Expression

The exceptional $X_{1}$-Jacobi differential expression is a second-order ordinary differential expression with rational coefficients; it was discovered by Gómez-Ullate, Kamran and Milson in 2009. In their work, they showed that there is a sequence of polynomial eigenfunctions $\left\{\widehat{P} _{n}^{(α,β)}\right\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$ called the exceptional $X_{1}$-Jacobi polynomials. There is no exceptional $X_{1}$-Jacobi polynomial of degree zero. These polynomials form a complete orthogonal set in the weighted Hilbert space $L^{2}((-1,1);\widehat{w}_{α,β}),$ where $\widehat{w}_{α,β}$ is a positive rational weight function related to the classical Jacobi weight. Among other conditions placed on the parameters $α$ and $β,$ it is required that $α,β>0.$ In this paper, we develop the spectral theory of this expression in $L^{2}((-1,1);\widehat{w}_{α,β})$. We also consider the spectral analysis of the `extreme' non-exceptional case, namely when $α=0$. In this case, the polynomial solutions are the non-classical Jacobi polynomials $\left\{ P_{n}^{(-2,β)}\right\} _{n=2}^{\infty}.$ We study the corresponding Jacobi differential expression in several Hilbert spaces, including their natural $L^{2}$ setting and a certain Sobolev space $S$ where the full sequence $\left\{ P_{n}^{(-2,β)}\right\} _{n=0}^{\infty}$ is studied and a careful spectral analysis of the Jacobi expression is carried out.

math.CA↗

arXiv2013

Asymptotics of Chebyshev-Stirling and Stirling numbers of the second kind

For the Chebyshev-Stirling numbers, a special case of the Jacobi-Stirling numbers, asymptotic formulae are derived in terms of a local central limit theorem. The underlying probabilistic approach also applies to the classical Stirling numbers of the second kind. Thereby a supplement of the asymptotic analysis for these numbers is established.

math.CO↗

arXiv2011

The Jacobi-Stirling Numbers

The Jacobi-Stirling numbers were discovered as a result of a problem involving the spectral theory of powers of the classical second-order Jacobi differential expression. Specifically, these numbers are the coefficients of integral composite powers of the Jacobi expression in Lagrangian symmetric form. Quite remarkably, they share many properties with the classical Stirling numbers of the second kind which, as shown in LW, are the coefficients of integral powers of the Laguerre differential expression. In this paper, we establish several properties of the Jacobi-Stirling numbers and its companions including combinatorial interpretations thereby extending and supplementing known contributions to the literature of Andrews-Littlejohn, Andrews-Gawronski-Littlejohn, Egge, Gelineau-Zeng, and Mongelli.

math.CO↗