The inverse spectral problem is the problem of understanding the potential function of the Sturm-Liouville operator from the set of eigenvalues plus some additional spectral data. The theory of transformation operators, first introduced by Marchenko, and then reinforced by Gelfand and Levitan, is a powerful method to deal with the different stages of the inverse spectral problem: uniqueness, reconstruction, stability and existence. In this thesis, we shall give a survey on the theory of transformation operators. In essence, the theory says that the transformation operator $X$ mapping the solution of a Sturm-Liouville operator $varphi$ to the solution of a Sturm-Liouville operator, can be written as $$Xvarphi=varphi(x)+int_{0}^{x}K(x,t)varphi(t)dt,$$ where the kernel $K$ satisfies the Goursat problem $$K_{xx}-K_{tt}-(q(x)-q_{0}(t))K=0$$ plus some initial boundary conditions. Furthermore, $K$ is related by a function $F$ defined by the spectral data ${(lambda_{n},alpha_{n})}$ where $alpha_{n}=(int_{0}^{pi}|varphi_{n}(t)|^{2})^{frac{1}{2}}$ through the famous Gelfand-Levitan equation $$K(x,y)+F(x,y)+int_{o}^{x}K(x,t)F(t,y)dt=0.$$ Furthermore, all the above relations are bilateral, that is $$qLeftrightarrow KLeftrightarrow FLeftarrow {(lambda_{n},alpha_{n})}.$$ hspace*{0.25in}We shall give a concise account of the above theory, which involves Riesz basis and order of entire functions. Then, we also report on some recent applications on the uniqueness result of the inverse spectral problem.

Recently there is a lot of interest in the study of Sturm-Liouville problems on graphs, called quantum graphs. However the study on cyclic quantum graphs are scarce. In this thesis, we shall rst consider a characteristic function approach to the spectral analysis for the Schrodinger operator H acting on graphene-like graphs|in nite periodic hexagonal graphs with 3 distinct adjacent edges and 3 distinct potentials de ned on them. We apply the Floquet-Bloch theory to derive a Floquet equation with parameters theta_1, theta_2, whose roots de ne all the spectral values of H. Then we show that the spectrum of this operator is continuous. Our results generalize those of Kuchment-Post and Korotyaev-Lobanov. Our method is also simpler and more direct. Next we solve two Ambarzumyan problems, one for graphene and another for a cyclic graph with two vertices and 3 edges. Finally we solve an Hochstadt-Lieberman type inverse spectral problem for the same cyclic graph with two vertices and 3 edges. Keywords : quantum graphs, graphene, spectrum, Ambarzumyan problem, inverse spectral problem.

In this thesis, we study the inverse nodal problem and inverse spectral problem for various Sturm-Liouville operators, in particular, Hill's operators. We first show that the space of Schr"odinger operators under separated boundary conditions characterized by ${H=(q,al, e)in L^{1}(0,1) imes [0,pi)^{2} : int_{0}^{1}q=0}$ is homeomorphic to the partition set of the space of all admissible sequences $X={X_{k}^{(n)}}$ which form sequences that converge to $q, al$ and $ e$ individually. The definition of $Gamma$, the space of quasinodal sequences, relies on the $L^{1}$ convergence of the reconstruction formula for $q$ by the exactly nodal sequence. Then we study the inverse nodal problem for Hill's equation, and solve the uniqueness, reconstruction and stability problem. We do this by making a translation of Hill's equation and turning it into a Dirichlet Schr"odinger problem. Then the estimates of corresponding nodal length and eigenvalues can be deduced. Furthermore, the reconstruction formula of the potential function and the uniqueness can be shown. We also show the quotient space $Lambda/sim$ is homeomorphic to the space $Omega={qin L^{1}(0,1) : int_{0}^{1}q = 0, q(x)=q(x+1) mbox{on} mathbb{R}}$. Here the space $Lambda$ is a collection of all admissible sequences $X={X_{k}^{(n)}}$ which form sequences that converge to $q$. Finally we show that if the periodic potential function $q$ of Hill's equation is single-well on $[0,1]$, then $q$ is constant if and only if the first instability interval is absent. The same is also valid for convex potentials. Then we show that similar statements are valid for single-barrier and concave density functions for periodic string equation. Our result extends that of M. J. Huang and supplements the works of Borg and Hochstadt.

The completeness of eigenfunctions for linearized equations is critical for many applications, such as the study of stability of solitary waves. In this thesis, we work with the Nonlinear Schr{\"o}dinger (NLS) equation, associated with the Zakharov-Shabat spectral problem. Firstly, we construct a complete set of eigenfunctions for the spectral problem. Our method involves working with an adjoint spectral problem and deriving completeness and orthogonality relations between eigenfunctions and adjoint eigenfunctions. Furthermore, we prove completeness of squared eigenfunctions, which are used to represent solutions of the linearized NLS equation. For this, we find relations between the variation of potential and the variation of scattering data. Moreover, we show the connection between the squared eigenfunctions of the Zakharov-Shabat spectral problem and solutions of the linearized NLS equation. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

We begin this dissertation by presenting a brief introduction to the theory of solitons and integrability (plus some classical methods applied in this field) in Chapter 1, mainly using the Korteweg-de Vries equation as a typical model. At the end of this Chapter a mathematical framework of notations and terminologies is established for the whole dissertation. In Chapter 2, we first introduce two specific matrix spectral problems (with 3 potentials) associated with matrix Lie algebras $\mbox{sl}(2;\mathbb{R})$ and $\mbox{so}(3;\mathbb{R})$, respectively; and then we engender two soliton hierarchies. The computation and analysis of their Hamiltonian structures based on the trace identity affirms that the obtained hierarchies are Liouville integrable. This chapter shows the entire process of how a soliton hierarchy is engendered by starting from a proper matrix spectral problem. In Chapter 3, at first we elucidate the Gauge equivalence among three types $u$-linear Hamiltonian operators, and construct then the corresponding B\"acklund transformations among them explicitly. Next we derive the if-and-only-if conditions under which the linear coupling of the discussed u-linear operators and matrix differential operators with constant coefficients is still Hamiltonian. Very amazingly, the derived conditions show that the resulting Hamiltonian operators is truncated only up to the 3rd differential order. Finally, a few relevant examples of integrable hierarchies are illustrated. In Chapter, 4 we first present a generalized modified Korteweg-de Vries hierarchy. Then for one of the equations in this hierarchy, we build the associated Riemann-Hilbert problems with some equivalent spectral problems. Next, computation of soliton solutions is performed by reducing the Riemann-Hilbert problems to those with identity jump matrix, i.e., those correspond to reflectionless inverse scattering problems. Finally a special reduction of the original matrix spectral problem will be briefly discussed.

We derive two hierarchies of 1+1 dimensional soliton-type integrable systems from two spectral problems associated with the Lie algebra of the special orthogonal Lie group SO(3,R). By using the trace identity, we formulate Hamiltonian structures for the resulting equations. Further, we show that each of these equations can be written in Hamiltonian form in two distinct ways, leading to the integrability of the equations in the sense of Liouville. We also present finite-dimensional Hamiltonian systems by means of symmetry constraints and discuss their integrability based on the existence of sufficiently many integrals of motion.

Spectral properties of linear operators and operator functions can be used to analyze models in nature. When dispersion and damping are taken into account, the dependence of the spectral parameter is in general non-linear and the operators are not selfadjoint. In this thesis non-selfadjoint operator functions are studied and several methods for obtaining properties of unbounded non-selfadjoint operator functions are presented. Equivalence is used to characterize operator functions since two equivalent operators share many significant characteristics such as the spectrum and closeness. Methods of linearization and other types of equivalences are presented for a class of unbounded operator matrix functions. To study properties of the spectrum for non-selfadjoint operator functions, the numerical range is a powerful tool. The thesis introduces an optimal enclosure of the numerical range of a class of unbounded operator functions. The new enclosure can be computed explicitly, and it is investigated in detail. Many properties of the numerical range such as the number of components can be deduced from the enclosure. Furthermore, it is utilized to prove the existence of an infinite number of eigenvalues accumulating to specific points in the complex plane. Among the results are proofs of accumulation of eigenvalues to the singularities of a class of unbounded rational operator functions. The enclosure of the numerical range is also used to find optimal and computable estimates of the norm of resolvent and a corresponding enclosure of the ε-pseudospectrum.

In dieser Arbeit beschäftigen wir uns mit Spektralinvarianten von Polygonen und geschlossenen Orbiflächen konstanter Gaußkrümmung. Unsere Methode ist es jeweils den Wärmeleitungskern und die asymptotische Entwicklung der Wärmespur zu untersuchen. Als erstes untersuchen wir hyperbolische Polygone, d.h. relativ kompakte Gebiete in der hyperbolischen Ebene mit stückweise geodätischem Rand. Wir berechnen die asymptotische Entwicklung der Wärmespur bezüglich des Dirichlet-Laplace Operators eines beliebigen hyperbolischen Polygons, und wir erhalten explizite Formeln für alle Wärmeinvarianten. Analoge Resultate für euklidische und sphärische Polygone waren vorher bekannt. Wir vereinheitlichen diese Resultate und leiten die Wärmeinvarianten für beliebige Polygone her, d.h. für relativ kompakte Gebiete mit stückweise geodätischem Rand in einer vollständigen Riemann'schen Mannigfaltigkeit konstanter Gaußkrümmung. Es stellt sich heraus, dass die Wärmeinvarianten viele Informationen über ein Polygon liefern, falls die Krümmung nicht verschwindet. Zum Beispiel sind dann die Multimenge aller echten Winkel (d.h. derjenigen Winkel die ungleich Pi sind) und die Euler-Charakteristik eines Polygons Spektralinvarianten. Außerdem berechnen wir die asymptotische Entwicklung der Wärmespur von geschlossenen Riemann'schen Orbiflächen konstanter Krümmung und erhalten explizite Formeln für alle Wärmeinvarianten. Falls die Krümmung nicht verschwindet, so kann man interessante Informationen aus den Wärmeinvarianten über die Topologie und die singuläre Menge einer Orbifläche ermitteln. / In this thesis we deal with spectral invariants for polygons and closed orbisurfaces of constant Gaussian curvature. In each case our method is to study the heat kernel and the asymptotic expansion of the heat trace. First, we investigate hyperbolic polygons, i.e. relatively compact domains in the hyperbolic plane with piecewise geodesic boundary. We compute the asymptotic expansion of the heat trace associated to the Dirichlet Laplacian of any hyperbolic polygon, and we obtain explicit formulas for all heat invariants. Analogous results for Euclidean and spherical polygons were known before. We unify these results and deduce the heat invariants for arbitrary polygons, i.e. for relatively compact domains with piecewise geodesic boundary contained in a complete Riemannian manifold of constant Gaussian curvature. It turns out that the heat invariants provide much information about a polygon, if the curvature does not vanish. For example, then the multiset of all real angles (i.e. those which are not equal to pi) and the Euler characteristic of a polygon are spectral invariants. Furthermore, we compute the asymptotic expansion of the heat trace for any closed Riemannian orbisurface of constant curvature, and obtain explicit formulas for all heat invariants. If the curvature does not vanish, then it is possible to detect interesting information about the topology and the singular set of an orbisurface from the heat invariants.

Dans cette thèse, nous présentons des résultats d’homogénéisation périodique d’un problème spectral et de l’équation d’ondes de Bloch. Il permet de modéliser les ondes à basse et haute fréquences. La partie modèle à basse fréquence est bien connu et n’est pas donc abordée dans ce travail. A contrario ; la partie à haute fréquence du modèle, qui représente des oscillations aux échelles microscopiques et macroscopiques, est un problème laissé ouvert. En particulier, les conditions aux limites de l’équation macroscopique à hautes fréquences établies dans [36] n’étaient pas connues avant le début de la thèse. Ce dernier travail apporte trois contributions principales. Les deux premières contributions, portent sur le comportement asymptotique du problème d’homogénéisation périodique du problème spectral et de l’équation des ondes en une dimension. La troisième contribution consiste en une extension du modèle du problème spectral posé dans une bande bi dimensionnelle et bornée. Le résultat d’homogénéisation comprend des effets de couche limite qui se produisent dans les conditions aux limites de l’équation macroscopique à haute fréquence. / In this dissertation, we present the periodic homogenization of a spectral problem and the waveequation with periodic rapidly varying coefficients in a bounded domain. The asymptotic behavioris addressed based on a method of Bloch wave homogenization. It allows modeling both the lowand high frequency waves. The low frequency part is well-known and it is not a new point here.In the opposite, the high frequency part of the model, which represents oscillations occurringat the microscopic and macroscopic scales, was not well understood. Especially, the boundaryconditions of the high-frequency macroscopic equation established in [36] were not known prior to thecommencement of thesis. The latter brings three main contributions. The first two contributions, areabout the asymptotic behavior of the periodic homogenization of the spectral problem and waveequation in one-dimension. The third contribution consists in an extension of the model for thespectral problem to a thin two-dimensional bounded strip Ω = (0; _) _ (0; ") _ R2. The homogenizationresult includes boundary layer effects occurring in the boundary conditions of the high-frequencymacroscopic equation.