The band spectrum of the periodic Airy–Schrödinger operator on the real line

Abstract

We introduce the periodic Airy–Schrödinger operator and we describe its band spectrum. This is an example of solvable model with a periodic potential which is not differentiable at its extrema. We prove that there exists a sequence of explicit constants giving upper bounds of the semiclassical parameter for which explicit estimates are valid. We completely determine the behaviour of the edges of the first spectral band with respect to the semiclassical parameter. Then, we investigate the spectral bands and gaps situated in the range of the potential. We prove precise estimates on the widths of these spectral bands and these spectral gaps and we determine an upper bound on the integrated spectral density in this range. Finally, we get estimates of the edges of spectral bands and thus of the widths of spectral bands and spectral gaps which are stated for values of the semiclassical parameter in fixed intervals.