Singular differential operators with spectra discrete and bounded below

Abstract

SynopsisA weighted, formally self-adjoint ordinary differential operator l of order 2n is considered, and conditions are given on the coefficients of l which ensure that all self-adjoint operators associated with l have a spectrum which is discrete and bounded below. Both finite and infinite singularities are considered. The results are obtained by the establishment of certain conditions which imply that l is non-oscillatory.