Spectral theory of the linearized Vlasov-Poisson equation

Abstract

We study the spectral theory of the linearized Vlasov-Poisson equation, in order to prove that its solution behaves, for large times, like a sum of plane waves. To obtain such an expansion involving damped waves, we must find an analytical extension of the resolvent of the equation. Then, the poles of this extension are no longer eigenvalues and must be interpreted as eigenmodes, associated to “generalized eigenfunctions” which actually are linear functionals on a Banach space of analytic functions.