Schrödinger operators on zigzag nanotubes

Abstract

We consider the Schrödinger operator with a periodic potential on quasi-1D models of zigzag single-wall carbon nanotubes. The spectrum of this operator consists of an absolutely continuous part (intervals separated by gaps) plus an infinite number of eigenvalues with infinite multiplicity. We describe all compactly supported eigenfunctions with the same eigenvalue. We define a Lyapunov function, which is analytic on some Riemann surface. On each sheet, the Lyapunov function has the same properties as in the scalar case, but it has branch points, which we call resonances. We prove that all resonances are real. We determine the asymptotics of the periodic and antiperiodic spectrum and of the resonances at high energy. We show that there exist two types of gaps: i) stable gaps, where the endpoints are periodic and anti-periodic eigenvalues, ii) unstable (resonance) gaps, where the endpoints are resonances (i.e., real branch points of the Lyapunov function). We describe all finite gap potentials. We show that the mapping: potential → all eigenvalues is a real analytic isomorphism for some class of potentials. © 2007 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel/Switzerland.