Sturm-Liouville Problem/Unit Weight Function

Theorem
Let $P, Q: \R \to \R$ be real mappings such that $P$ is smooth and positive, while $Q$ is continuous:


 * $\map P x \in C^\infty$


 * $\map P x > 0$


 * $\map Q x \in C^0$

Let the Sturm-Liouville equation, with $\map w x = 1$, be of the form:


 * $-\paren {P y'}' + Q y = \lambda y$

where $\lambda \in \R$.

Let it satisfy the following boundary conditions:


 * $\map y a = \map y b = 0$

Then all solutions of the Sturm-Liouville equation, together with their eigenvalues, form infinite sequences $\sequence {y^{\paren n} }$ and $\sequence {\lambda^{\paren n} }$.

Furthermore, each $\lambda^{\paren n}$ corresponds to an eigenfunction $y^{\paren n}$, unique up to a constant factor.

Outline
Firstly, an equivalence between the Sturm-Liouville equation and minimisation of functional $\displaystyle J \sqbrk y = \int_a^b \paren {P y'^2 + Q y^2} \rd x$ problems is established.

Then, the lower bound of the functional $J$ is found, thus allowing $J$ to have a finite minimisation.

Afterwards, a trial minimizing sequence is chosen, and $J$ becomes a function of expansion coefficients. The more coefficients, (possibly) the lower value.

Sequences of trial mappings $\sequence {y_n^{\paren 1} }$ and values $\sequence {\lambda_n^{\paren 1} }$ of $J$ are introduced.

Convergence of $\sequence {\lambda_n^{\paren 1} }$ is shown at once.

As for $\sequence {y_n^{\paren 1} }$, convergence to $y^{\paren 1}$ is proved for its subsequence.

The rest of arguments rest upon this weaker result.

Furthermore, $\lambda^{\paren 1}$ and $y^{\paren 1}$ are observed to satisfy Sturm-Liouville equation.

Convergence of the original sequence $\sequence {y_n^{\paren 1} }$ is secured.

Finally, construction of the rest of eigenfunctions and eigenvalues is described.

Lemma 1
The given Sturm-Liouville equation is an Euler equation of the following functional:


 * $\displaystyle J \sqbrk y = \int_a^b \paren {P y'^2 + Qy^2} \rd x$

constrained by a subsidiary condition:


 * $\displaystyle \int_a^b y^2 \rd x = 1$

Proof
According to Simplest Variational Problem with Subsidiary Conditions, the following equation must hold:


 * $F_y - \dfrac \rd {\rd x} F_{y'} + \lambda \paren {G_y - \dfrac \rd {\rd x} G_{y'} } = 0$

where:


 * $F = P y'^2 + Q y^2$


 * $G = y^2$

Then the Euler equation reads:


 * $2 Q y - 2 \paren {P y'}' + 2 \lambda y = 0$

Division by $2$ and rearrangement of terms yields the desired result.

By Necessary Condition for Integral Functional to have Extremum for given function, if $y$ is an extremum of $J$, it is also a solution of the Sturm-Liouville equation.

Lemma 2
$J$ is bounded from below.

Proof
Since $Q$ is continuous on an interval, it is bounded.

Since $P > 0$, it holds that:


 * $\displaystyle \int_a^b \paren {P y'^2 + Q y^2} \rd x > \int_a^b Q y^2 \rd x \ge M \int_a^b y^2 \rd x = M$

where:


 * $\displaystyle M = \min_{a \mathop \le x \mathop \le b} \map Q x$

Therefore, $J$ is bounded from below.

Introduce a new variable:
 * $t := \pi \dfrac {x - a} {b - a}$

Then the interval of consideration $\closedint a b$ is mapped onto $\closedint 0 \pi$.

Choose Ritz sequence $\sequence {\map {\phi_n} t} = \sequence {\sin n t}$, where $n \in \N$.

Lemma 3
The elements of the sequence $\sequence {\sin n t}$ are orthogonal on the interval $\closedint 0 \pi$:


 * $\displaystyle \int_0^\pi \map \sin {k t} \map \sin {l t} \rd x = \frac \pi 2 \delta_{k l}$

Proof
The product involves two elements of the sequence $\sequence {\map \sin {n t} }$.

Their indices either match each other or not.

Suppose $k = l$.

Then:

Suppose $k \ne l$.

Then:

By Proof by Cases, the statement is proved.

Let the trial solution be of the following form:


 * $\displaystyle \map y x = \sum_{k \mathop = 1}^n \alpha_k \map \sin {k \map t x}$

Trial solution has to satisfy boundary and subsidiary conditions.

Boundary conditions are satisfied without further requirements.

Subsidiary condition results into an additional constraint on coefficients $ \alpha_k $:

All the points $\boldsymbol \alpha$ constitute a set $ \sigma_n $ which is a surface of an $ n $-dimensional sphere, defined by the subsidiary condition.

For the assumed trial mapping the functional $ J_n \left ( { \boldsymbol \alpha } \right ) $ reads as:


 * $ \displaystyle J_n \left ( { \boldsymbol \alpha } \right ) = \frac{ \pi }{ b - a } \int_0^\pi \left [ { P \left ( { \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k \sin k t } \right )'^2 + Q  \left ( { \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k \sin k t  } \right )^2 } \right ] \rd t $

The integrand is a second order polynomial the components of $\boldsymbol \alpha $.

Hence, $J$ is continuous the components of $\boldsymbol \alpha$.

The components of $ \boldsymbol \alpha $ constitute a closed and bounded set.

By definition, $ \sigma_n $ is a compact set.

Thus, $ J_n \left ( { \boldsymbol \alpha } \right ) $ is continuous on $ \sigma_n $.

By Continuous Function on Compact Subspace of Euclidean Space is Bounded, $ J_n \left ( { \boldsymbol \alpha } \right ) $ has a minimum on $ \sigma_n $.

Let $ y_n^{\paren 1} \left({x}\right)$ be defined as:


 * $ \displaystyle y_n^{\paren 1} \left({x}\right) = \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k^{\paren 1} \sin k t \left({x}\right)$

for which $ J_n \left ( { \boldsymbol \alpha } \right ) $ achieves the minimum $ \lambda_n^{\paren 1} $, unrelated to $ \lambda $.

Then the $ n $-th element of the sequence $\sequence { y_n^{\paren 1} }$ corresponds to the $ n $-th element of the sequence of minima $\sequence {\lambda_n^{\paren 1} }$ of $ J_n \left ( { \boldsymbol \alpha } \right ) $.

Since $ \sigma_n \subset \sigma_{ n + 1} $, where $ \sigma_n $ has $ \alpha_{ n + 1 } = 0 $, it holds that:


 * $ \displaystyle J_n \left ( { \alpha_1, \ldots, \alpha_n } \right ) = J_{ n + 1 } \left ( { \alpha_1, \ldots, \alpha_n, 0 } \right ) $

By Ritz Method implies Not Worse Approximation with Increased Number of Functions:


 * $ \displaystyle \lambda_{ n + 1 }^{\paren 1} \le \lambda_n^{\paren 1} $

Therefore, by increasing the domain of definition of $ y_n^{\paren 1} $ through additional summands, the minima of $ J_n \left ( { \boldsymbol \alpha } \right ) $ cannot increase.

From the last inequality and $ J $ being bounded from below it follows, that the following limit exists:


 * $\displaystyle \lambda^{\paren 1} = \lim_{ n \to \infty } \lambda_n^{\paren 1}$

Lemma 4
The sequence $\sequence {y_n^{\paren 1} }$ contains a uniformly convergent subsequence.

Proof
The sequence


 * $\displaystyle \lambda_n^{\paren 1} = \frac \pi {b - a} \int_0^\pi \left ( { P { y_n^{\paren 1} }'^2 + Q { y_n^{\paren 1} }^2 } \right ) \rd t $

is convergent with its limit being $\lambda^{\paren 1}$.

Hence, it is bounded:


 * $\displaystyle \frac \pi {b - a} \int_0^\pi \left ( { P { y_n^{\paren 1} }'^2 + Q { y_n^{\paren 1} }^2 } \right ) \rd t \le M $

Furthermore:

Consequently:


 * $\displaystyle \frac \pi {b - a} \min_{a \mathop \le x \mathop \le b} P \left({x}\right) \int_0^\pi {y_n^{\paren 1} }'^2 \left({t}\right) \rd t \le \frac \pi {b - a} \int_0^\pi P {y_n^{\paren 1} }'^2 \left({t}\right) \rd t \le M_1$

For positive $ P $, division by $ P $ does not affect the direction of inequality.

If follows that:


 * $ \displaystyle \int_0^\pi { y_n^{\paren 1} }'^2 \left ( { t } \right ) \rd t \le \frac{ b - a } \pi \frac{ M_1 }{ \min_{ a \le x \le b } P \left({x}\right)} = M_2 $

Consider squared absolute value of $ y_n^{\paren 1} $.

Then, for $ 0 \le t \le \pi $:

In other words:


 * $\forall t \in \left [ { 0 \,. \,. \, \pi } \right ], n \in \N : \left \vert { y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) - y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { 0 } \right ) } \right \vert \le \sqrt{ M_2 \pi }$

Thus $\sequence {y_n^{\paren 1} }$ is uniformly bounded.

In addition to this, for $ 0 \le t_1, t_2 \le \pi $:

Let $\epsilon$ be any strictly positive real number such that $\epsilon = \sqrt {M_2 \delta}$, where $\delta$ is a strictly positive real number.

Suppose $\delta$ is such that $ \left \vert t_2 - t_1 \right \vert < \delta $.

Then:

In other words:


 * $ \displaystyle \forall \epsilon \in \R_{>0}: \exists \delta \in \R_{>0}: \forall n \in \N: \forall t_1, t_2 \in \left [ { 0 \,. \,. \, \pi } \right ]: \left \vert t_2 - t_1 \right \vert < \delta \implies \left \vert y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t_2 } \right ) - y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t_1 } \right ) \right \vert < \epsilon$

where metric is induced by norm.

Thus $\sequence {y_n^{\paren 1} }$ is uniformly equicontinuous.

By Arzela's Theorem, there exists a uniformly convergent subsequence $\sequence {y_{n_m}^{\paren 1} }$ from $\sequence {y_n^{\paren 1} }$.

Denote:


 * $\displaystyle y^{\paren 1} \left({x}\right) = \lim_{ m \to \infty } y_{ n_m }^{\paren 1} \left({x}\right)$

Now a proposition is established, needed for the upcoming Lemma 6.

Lemma 5
Let $ y \left ( { t } \right ) $ be continuous in $ \left [ { 0 \,. \,. \, \pi } \right ] $.

Suppose:


 * $ \displaystyle \forall h \in C^2 \left ( { 0, \pi } \right ) : h \left ( { 0 } \right ) = h \left ( { \pi } \right ) = h' \left ( { 0 } \right ) = h' \left ( { \pi } \right ) = 0 : \int_0^\pi \left [ { - \left ( { Ph' } \right )' + Q_1 h } \right ] y \rd t = 0 $

Then $ y \left ( { t } \right ) \in C^2 \left ( { 0, \pi } \right ) $ and:


 * $ - \left ( { Py' } \right )' + Q_1 y = 0 $

Proof
By Integration by parts, Product Rule for Derivatives, boundary conditions for $ h $, and noticing that:

the previous integral can be rewritten as:

From lemma:


 * $ \displaystyle - P y + \int_0^t P' y \rd \zeta + \int_0^x \left ( { \int_0^t Q_1 y \rd t } \right ) \rd \zeta = c_0 + c_1 t $

The as well as the second and third terms on the  are differentiable  $ t $.

Thus $ \left ( { P y } \right )' $ exists.

Differentiation $t$ leads to:


 * $\displaystyle -\left ( { P y } \right )' + P' y + \int_0^t Q_1 y \rd \zeta = c_1 $

or:


 * $ \displaystyle - P y' + \int_0^t Q_1 y \rd \zeta = c_1 $

The, the second term on the and $ P $ are continuous and differentiable  $ t $, while $ P $ is also positive.

Therefore, $ y' $ exists and is continuous.

Hence, $ \left ( { P y' } \right )' $ exists and:


 * $ \displaystyle - \left ( { P y' } \right )' + Q_1 y = 0 $

Furthermore, $P$ is continuous and differentiable, while $ Q_1 $ is continuous.

Then $y''$ exists and is continuous.

Lemma 6
$y^{\paren 1}$ together with $\lambda^{\paren 1} $ satisfy the Sturm-Liouville equation, where $ w \left({x}\right) = 1 $:


 * $\displaystyle - \left ( { P{ y^{\paren 1} }' } \right )' + Q y^{\paren 1} = \lambda^{\paren 1} y^{\paren 1} $

Proof
Let $J_n$, together with its subsidiary condition $\displaystyle \int_a^b y^2 \rd x = 1$, achieve a minimum for $\boldsymbol \alpha = \boldsymbol \alpha^{\paren 1}$.

Then the necessary condition for its minimum is:

Notice, that:

This leads to a system of equations:


 * $ \displaystyle \int_0^\pi \left \{ { P \left ( { t } \right ) \left [ { \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k^{\paren 1} \left ( { \sin k t } \right )' } \right ] \left ( { \sin rx } \right )' + \left [ { Q - \lambda_n^{\paren 1} } \right ] \left [ { \sum_{ k = 1 }^n  \alpha_k^{\paren 1} \sin k t } \right ] \sin r t  } \right \} \rd t = 0 $

Multiplying each equation by an arbitrary constant $ C_r^{ \left ( { n } \right ) } $ and summing over $ r $ results in:


 * $ \displaystyle \int_0^\pi \left [ { P y_n' h_n' + \left ( { Q - \lambda_n^{\paren 1} y_n h_n } \right ) } \right ] \rd t = 0 $

where:


 * $ \displaystyle h_n \left ( { t } \right ) = \sum_{ r = 1 }^n C_r^{ \left ( { n } \right ) } \sin r t$


 * $ \displaystyle y_n = \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k \sin \left ( { k t } \right ) $

By Integration by parts:

Consider all real mappings $ h $ such that:


 * $ h \left({x}\right) \in C^2 \left ( { 0, \pi } \right ) $

and satisfying the boundary conditions.

Then $ C_r^{ \left ( { n } \right ) } $ can be chosen, such that:


 * $ \displaystyle \lim_{ n \to \infty } \int_0^\pi \left \vert h_n \left({x}\right) - h \left({x}\right) \right \vert^2 \rd x = 0 $


 * $ \displaystyle \lim_{ n \to \infty } \int_0^\pi \left \vert h_n' \left({x}\right) - h' \left({x}\right) \right \vert^2 \rd x = 0 $


 * $ \displaystyle \lim_{ n \to \infty } \int_0^\pi \left \vert h_n \left({x}\right) - h \left({x}\right) \right \vert^2 \rd x = 0 $

Due to the existence of uniformly convergent subsequence, $ y_n^{\paren 1} $ converges to $ y^{\paren 1} $ uniformly on $ \left [ { 0, \pi } \right ] $:


 * $ \displaystyle \lim_{ m \to \infty } \int_0^\pi \paren {- \left ( { Ph_{ n_m }' } \right )' + (Q - \lambda_{ n_m }^{\paren 1} ) h_{ n_m } } y_{ n_m }^{\paren 1} \rd x = \int_0^\pi \paren { -\left ( { Ph' } \right )' + \left ( { Q - \lambda^{\paren 1} } \right ) h} y^{\paren 1} \rd x = 0 $

By Lemma 5, where $ Q_1 = Q - \lambda^{\paren 1} $, $ y^{\paren 1} \in C^2 \left [ { 0 \,. \,. \, \pi } \right ] $ and satisfies Sturm-Liouville equation with $ w = 1 $.

Lemma 7
$\sequence {y_n^{\paren 1} \left({x}\right)}$ pointwise converges to $ y^{\paren 1} \left({x}\right)$.

Proof
By Existence and Uniqueness of Solution for Linear Second Order ODE with two Initial Conditions, where $ R \left({x}\right) = 0 $, the Sturm-Liouville equation


 * $ - \left ( { Py' } \right )' + Qy = \lambda y $

satisfying the boundary conditions:


 * $ y \left ( { 0 } \right ) = y \left ( { \pi } \right ) = 0 $

and the subsidiary condition:


 * $ \displaystyle \int_0^\pi y^2 \left ( { t } \right ) = 1 $

is unique up to the sign of $ y $.

Let $y^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) $ be a solution corresponding to $ \lambda = \lambda^{\paren 1} $

Due to the subsidiary condition, the condition $ y^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) = 0 $ cannot hold in the entire interval $ \left [ { 0 \,. \,. \, \pi } \right ] $.

Hence, the set of roots to this condition is countable.

Then:


 * $\exists t_0 \in \left [ { 0 \,. \,. \, \pi } \right ] : y^{\paren 1} \left ( { t_0 } \right ) \ne 0 $

Choose the sign so that $ y^{\paren 1} \left ( { t_0 } \right ) > 0 $

Similarly, let $ y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) $ be a solution corresponding to $ \lambda = \lambda_n^{\paren 1} $

Choose the signs so that:


 * $ \forall n \in \N : y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t_0 } \right ) \ge 0 $

Suppose $ y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) $ does not pointwise converge to $ y^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) $.

By Arzela's Theorem there exists another subsequence from $ \{ { y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) } \} $, converging to another solution $ \overline{ y }^{\paren 1} $, where $ \lambda = \lambda^{\paren 1} $.

Because of the uniqueness of solutions, except for the sign, both solutions may differ only in their signs:


 * $\overline y^{\paren 1} \left({x}\right) = - y^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) $

Therefore:


 * $\overline y^{\paren 1} \left ( { t_0 } \right ) < 0 $

This is impossible, since:


 * $\forall n \in N : y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t_0 } \right ) \ge 0 $

Therefore $ y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) $ pointwise converges to $ y^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) $, provided $ y_n^{\paren 1} \left ( { t } \right ) $ is chosen with the correct sign.

Lemma 8
Sequences $\sequence {y^{ \left ( { n } \right ) } }$ and $ \sequence { \lambda^{ \left ( { n } \right ) }  }$ are infinite.

Proof
Suppose, $ y^{\paren r} $ and $ \lambda^{\paren r} $ are known.

The next eigenfunction $ y^{\paren {r + 1} } $ and the corresponding eigenvalue $ \lambda^{\paren {r + 1} } $ can be found by minimising


 * $ \displaystyle J \left [ { y } \right ] = \int_0^\pi \left ( { Py'^2 + Qy^2 } \right ) rd x $

where boundary and subsidiary conditions are supplied with orthogonality conditions:


 * $ \forall m \in \N : { 1 \le m \le r } : \displaystyle \int_0^\pi y^{ \left ( { m } \right ) } \left ( { t } \right ) y^{\paren {r + 1} } \left ( { t } \right ) \rd t = 0 $

The new solution of the form:


 * $ \displaystyle y_n^{\paren {r + 1} } \left ( { t } \right ) = \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k^{\paren {r + 1} } \sin k t $

is now also orthogonal to mappings:


 * $ \displaystyle y_n^{ \left ( { m } \right ) } \left ( { t } \right ) = \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k^{ \left ( { m } \right ) } \sin k t $

This results into:


 * $ \displaystyle \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k^{\paren {r + 1} } \int_0^\pi \sin k t \left ( { \sum_{ l = 1 }^n \alpha_l^{ \left ( { m } \right ) } \sin l t } \right ) \rd t = \frac{ \pi }{ 2 } \sum_{ k = 1 }^n \alpha_k^{\paren {r + 1} } \alpha_k^{ \left ( { m } \right ) } = 0 $

These equations describe $ r $ distinct $ \left ( { n - 1 } \right ) $-dimensional hyperplanes, passing through the origin of coordinates in $ n $ dimensions.

These hyperplanes intersect the sphere $\sigma_n$, resulting in an $\left({n - r}\right)$-dimensional sphere $\hat \sigma_{n - r}$.

By definition, it is a compact set.

By Continuous Function on Compact Subspace of Euclidean Space is Bounded, $ J_n \left ( { \boldsymbol \alpha } \right ) $ has a minimum on $ \hat{ \sigma }_{ n - r } $.

Denote it as $ \lambda_n^{\paren {r + 1} } $.

By Ritz Method implies Not Worse Approximation with Increased Number of Functions:


 * $ \displaystyle \lambda_{ n + 1 }^{\paren {r + 1} } \le \lambda_n^{\paren {r + 1} } $

This, together with $J$ being bounded from below, implies:


 * $\displaystyle \lambda^{\paren {r + 1} } = \lim_{n \mathop \to \infty} \lambda_n^{\paren {r + 1} }$

Additional constraints may or may not affect the new minimum:


 * $\lambda^{\paren r} \le \lambda^{\paren {r + 1} }$

Let:


 * $\displaystyle y_n^{\paren {r + 1} } = \sum_{k \mathop = 1}^n \alpha_k^{\paren {r + 1} } \sin k t$

$y^{\paren {r + 1} }$ satisfies Sturm-Liouville equation together with boundary, subsidiary and orthogonality conditions.

By Lemma 7, which is not affected by additional constraints, $\sequence {y_n^{\paren {r + 1} } }$ uniformly converges to $y^{\paren {r + 1} }$.

Thus, $y^{\paren {r + 1} }$ is an eigenfunction of Sturm-Liouville equation with an eigenvalue $\lambda^{\paren {r + 1} }$.

Orthogonal mappings are linearly independent.

Each eigenvalue corresponds only to one eigenfunction, unique up to a constant factor.

Thus:


 * $\lambda^{\paren r} < \lambda^{\paren {r + 1} }$