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Rafael Tiedra de Aldecoa

Publications and source records attributed to Rafael Tiedra de Aldecoa.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Spectral and scattering theory of one-dimensional coupled photonic crystals

We study the spectral and scattering theory of light transmission in a system consisting of two asymptotically periodic waveguides, also known as one-dimensional photonic crystals, coupled by a junction. Using analyticity techniques and commutator methods in a two-Hilbert spaces setting, we determine the nature of the spectrum and prove the existence and completeness of the wave operators of the system.

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Spectral and scattering properties of quantum walks on homogenous trees of odd degree

For unitary operators $U_0,U$ in Hilbert spaces ${\mathcal H}_0,{\mathcal H}$ and identification operator $J:{\mathcal H}_0\to{\mathcal H}$, we present results on the derivation of a Mourre estimate for $U$ starting from a Mourre estimate for $U_0$ and on the existence and completeness of the wave operators for the triple $(U,U_0,J)$. As an application, we determine spectral and scattering properties of a class of anisotropic quantum walks on homogenous trees of odd degree with evolution operator $U$. In particular, we establish a Mourre estimate for $U$, obtain a class of locally $U$-smooth operators, and prove that the spectrum of $U$ covers the whole unit circle and is purely absolutely continuous, outside possibly a finite set where $U$ may have eigenvalues of finite multiplicity. We also show that (at least) three different choices of free evolution operators $U_0$ are possible for the proof of the existence and completeness of the wave operators.

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Discrete Laplacian in a half-space with a periodic surface potential I: Resolvent expansions, scattering matrix, and wave operators

We present a detailed study of the scattering system given by the Neumann Laplacian on the discrete half-space perturbed by a periodic potential at the boundary. We derive asymptotic resolvent expansions at thresholds and eigenvalues, we prove the continuity of the scattering matrix, and we establish new formulas for the wave operators. Along the way, our analysis puts into evidence a surprising relation between some properties of the potential, like the parity of its period, and the behaviour of the integral kernel of the wave operators.

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Stationary scattering theory for unitary operators with an application to quantum walks

We present a general account on the stationary scattering theory for unitary operators in a two-Hilbert spaces setting. For unitary operators $U_0,U$ in Hilbert spaces ${\cal H}_0,{\cal H}$ and for an identification operator $J:{\cal H}_0\to{\cal H}$, we give the definitions and collect properties of the stationary wave operators, the strong wave operators, the scattering operator and the scattering matrix for the triple $(U,U_0,J)$. In particular, we exhibit conditions under which the stationary wave operators and the strong wave operators exist and coincide, and we derive representation formulas for the stationary wave operators and the scattering matrix. As an application, we show that these representation formulas are satisfied for a class of anisotropic quantum walks recently introduced in the literature.

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Quantum time delay for unitary operators: general theory

We present a suitable framework for the definition of quantum time delay in terms of sojourn times for unitary operators in a two-Hilbert spaces setting. We prove that this time delay defined in terms of sojourn times (time-dependent definition) exists and coincides with the expectation value of a unitary analogue of the Eisenbud-Wigner time delay operator (time-independent definition). Our proofs rely on a new summation formula relating localisation operators to time operators and on various tools from functional analysis such as Mackey's imprimititvity theorem, Trotter-Kato Formula and commutator methods for unitary operators. Our approach is general and model-independent.

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Ruled strips with asymptotically diverging twisting

We consider the Dirichlet Laplacian in a two-dimensional strip composed of segments translated along a straight line with respect to a rotation angle with velocity diverging at infinity. We show that this model exhibits a "raise of dimension" at infinity leading to an essential spectrum determined by an asymptotic three-dimensional tube of annular cross-section. If the cross-section of the asymptotic tube is a disk, we also prove the existence of discrete eigenvalues below the essential spectrum.

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Degree, mixing, and absolutely continuous spectrum of cocycles with values in compact Lie groups

We consider skew products $$T_ϕ:X\times G\to X\times G,~~(x,g)\mapsto(F_1(x),g\;\!ϕ(x)),$$ where $X$ is a compact manifold with probability measure, $G$ a compact Lie group with Lie algebra $\frak g$, $F_1:X\to X$ the time-one map of a measure-preserving flow, and $ϕ\in C^1(X,G)$ a cocycle. Then, we define the degree of $ϕ$ as a suitable function $P_ϕM_ϕ:X\to\frak g$, we show that it transforms in a natural way under Lie group homomorphisms and under the relation of $C^1$-cohomology, and we explain how it generalises previous definitions of degree of a cocycle. For each finite-dimensional irreducible representation $π$ of $G$, and $\frak g_π$ the Lie algebra of $π(G)$, we define in an analogous way the degree of $π\circϕ$ as a suitable function $P_{π\circϕ}M_{π\circϕ}:X\to\frak g_π$. If $F_1$ is uniquely ergodic and the functions $π\circϕ$ diagonal, or if $T_ϕ$ is uniquely ergodic, then the degree of $ϕ$ reduces to a constant in $\frak g$ given by an integral over $X$. As a by-product, we obtain that there is no uniquely ergodic skew product $T_ϕ$ with nonzero degree if $G$ is a connected semisimple compact Lie group. Next, we show that $T_ϕ$ is mixing in the orthocomplement of the kernel of $P_{π\circϕ}M_{π\circϕ}$, and under some additional assumptions we show that $U_ϕ$ has purely absolutely continuous spectrum in that orthocomplement if $(iP_{π\circϕ}M_{π\circϕ})^2$ is strictly positive. Summing up these results for each $π$, one obtains a global result for the mixing and the absolutely continuous spectrum of $T_ϕ$. As an application, we present four explicit cases: when $G$ is a torus, $G=SU(2)$, $G=SO(3,\mathbb R)$, and $G=U(2)$. In each case, the results we obtain are new, or generalise previous results. Our proofs rely on new results on positive commutator methods for unitary operators.

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Spectral properties of horocycle flows for surfaces of constant negative curvature

We consider flows, called $W^{\rm u}$ flows, whose orbits are the unstable manifolds of a codimension one Anosov flow. Under some regularity assumptions, we give a short proof of the strong mixing property of $W^{\rm u}$ flows and we show that $W^{\rm u}$ flows have purely absolutely continuous spectrum in the orthocomplement of the constant functions. As an application, we obtain that time changes of the classical horocycle flows for compact surfaces of constant negative curvature have purely absolutely continuous spectrum in the orthocomplement of the constant functions for time changes in a regularity class slightly less than $C^2$. This generalises recent results on time changes of horocycle flows.

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Commutator criteria for strong mixing II. More general and simpler

We present a new criterion, based on commutator methods, for the strong mixing property of unitary representations of topological groups equipped with a proper length function. Our result generalises and unifies recent results on the strong mixing property of discrete flows $\{U^N\}_{N\in\mathbb Z}$ and continuous flows $\{{\rm e}^{-itH}\}_{t\in\mathbb R}$ induced by unitary operators $U$ and self-adjoint operators $H$ in a Hilbert space. As an application, we present a short alternative proof (not using convolutions) of the strong mixing property of the left regular representation of $σ$-compact locally compact groups.

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Commutator criteria for strong mixing

We present new criteria, based on commutator methods, for the strong mixing property of discrete flows $\{U^N\}_{N\in\mathbb Z}$ and continuous flows $\{{\rm e}^{-itH}\}_{t\in\mathbb R}$ induced by unitary operators $U$ and self-adjoint operators $H$ in a Hilbert space $\mathcal H$. Our approach put into evidence a general definition for the topological degree of the curves $N\mapsto U^N$ and $t\mapsto{\rm e}^{-itH}$ in the unitary group of $\mathcal H$. Among other examples, our results apply to skew products of compact Lie groups, time changes of horocycle flows and adjacency operators on graphs.

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The absolute continuous spectrum of skew products of compact Lie groups

Let $X$ and $G$ be compact Lie groups, $F_1:X\to X$ the time-one map of a $C^\infty$ measure-preserving flow, $ϕ:X\to G$ a continuous function and $π$ a finite-dimensional irreducible unitary representation of $G$. Then, we prove that the skew products $$ T_ϕ:X\times G\to X\times G,\quad(x,g)\mapsto\big(F_1(x),g\;ϕ(x)\big), $$ have purely absolutely continuous spectrum in the subspace associated to $π$ if $π\circϕ$ has a Dini-continuous Lie derivative along the flow and if a matrix multiplication operator related to the topological degree of $π\circϕ$ has nonzero determinant. This result provides a simple, but general, criterion for the presence of an absolutely continuous component in the spectrum of skew products of compact Lie groups. As an illustration, we consider the cases where $F_1$ is an ergodic translation on $\T^d$ and $X\times G=\T^d\times\T^{d'}$, $X\times G=\T^d\times\SU(2)$ and $X\times G=\T^d\times\U(2)$. Our proofs rely on recent results on positive commutator methods for unitary operators.

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Commutator methods for the spectral analysis of uniquely ergodic dynamical systems

We present a method, based on commutator methods, for the spectral analysis of uniquely ergodic dynamical systems. When applicable, it leads to the absolute continuity of the spectrum of the corresponding unitary operators. As an illustration, we consider time changes of horocycle flows, skew products over translations and Furstenberg transformations. For time changes of horocycle flows, we obtain absolute continuity under assumptions weaker than the ones to be found in the literature.

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Spectral analysis of time changes for horocycle flows

We prove (under the condition of A. G. Kushnirenko) that all time changes for the horocycle flow have purely absolutely continuous spectrum in the orthocomplement of the constant functions. This provides an answer to a question of A. Katok and J.-P. Thouvenot on the spectral nature of time changes for horocycle flows. Our proofs rely on positive commutator methods for self-adjoint operators.

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Time delay and Calabi invariant in classical scattering theory

We define, prove the existence and obtain explicit expressions for classical time delay defined in terms of sojourn times for abstract scattering pairs (H_0,H) on a symplectic manifold. As a by-product, we establish a classical version of the Eisenbud-Wigner formula of quantum mechanics. Using recent results of V. Buslaev and A. Pushnitski on the scattering matrix in Hamiltonian mechanics, we also obtain an explicit expression for the derivative of the Calabi invariant of the Poincaré scattering map. Our results are applied to dispersive Hamiltonians, to a classical particle in a tube and to Hamiltonians on the Poincaré ball.

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A formula relating localisation observables to the variation of energy in Hamiltonian dynamics

We consider on a symplectic manifold M with Poisson bracket {,} an Hamiltonian H with complete flow and a family Phi=(Phi_1,...,Phi_d) of observables satisfying the condition {{Phi_j,H},H}=0 for each j. Under these assumptions, we prove a new formula relating the time evolution of localisation observables defined in terms of Phi to the variation of energy along classical orbits. The correspondence between this formula and a formula established recently in the framework of quantum mechanics is put into evidence. Among other examples, our theory applies to Stark Hamiltonians, homogeneous Hamiltonians, purely kinetic Hamiltonians, the repulsive harmonic potential, the simple pendulum, central force systems, the Poincare ball model, covering manifolds, the wave equation, the nonlinear Schroedinger equation, the Korteweg-de Vries equation and quantum Hamiltonians defined via expectation values.

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On a new formula relating localisation operators to time operators

We consider in a Hilbert space a self-adjoint operator H and a family Phi=(Phi_1,...,Phi_d) of mutually commuting self-adjoint operators. Under some regularity properties of H with respect to Phi, we propose two new formulae for a time operator for H and prove their equality. One of the expressions is based on the time evolution of an abstract localisation operator defined in terms of Phi while the other one corresponds to a stationary formula. Under the same assumptions, we also conduct the spectral analysis of H by using the method of the conjugate operator. Among other examples, our theory applies to Friedrichs Hamiltonians, Stark Hamiltonians, some Jacobi operators, the Dirac operator, convolution operators on locally compact groups, pseudodifferential operators, adjacency operators on graphs and direct integral operators.

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