Eigenvectors of composite systems. I. General theory

Abstract

A composite system is a system formed out of different subsystems connected by interfaces. Any physical property of such a system can be described by an operator which can have a discrete matrix form or a continuous (e.g. differential) form. Some composite systems can even be formed of partly discrete and partly continuous subsystems. The authors present here a general unified theory enabling them to calculate the deformations of any composite system submitted to some action. It is then shown how this theory can be used for the calculation of eigenvectors related to the eigenvalues of a given operator.