Generalized Double Operator Integrals for Continuous Spectrum Operators

TL;DR

This paper develops a new framework for generalized double operator integrals applicable to non-self-adjoint operators with continuous spectra, broadening analytical tools for quantum mechanics and related fields.

Contribution

It introduces GDOIs extending DOI theory to continuous spectrum operators, including algebraic properties, perturbation formulas, and applications to operator functions.

Findings

Established GDOIs for non-self-adjoint operators

Derived perturbation and norm inequalities for GDOIs

Demonstrated applications in functional calculus and spectral analysis

Abstract

Continuous spectrum operators (CSOs), characterized by spectra comprising continuous intervals rather than discrete eigenvalues, are pivotal in quantum mechanics, wave propagation, and systems governed by partial differential equations. Traditional double operator integrals (DOIs), central to analyzing operator functions and perturbations, have been limited to operators with finite or countable spectra, relying critically on self-adjointness. This work introduces a comprehensive framework for Generalized Double Operator Integrals (GDOIs), extending DOI theory to non-self-adjoint operators through the spectral structure of CSOs. By reinterpreting DOIs as instances of the spectral mapping theorem for CSOs, we establish GDOIs as a rigorous generalization, enabling their application to operators with continuous spectra. Key contributions include the development of GDOIs' algebraic properties, perturbation formulas generalizing classical results, norm and Lipschitz-type inequalities, and continuity with respect to operator and function parameters. Applications to differentiating operator-valued functions demonstrate the framework's utility in functional calculus. Furthermore, integrating recent spectral mapping theorems allows natural extension to hybrid spectrum operators, bridging operator theory with applied fields. This work significantly expands the analytical toolbox for systems with continuous spectral phenomena, offering new methodologies for quantum mechanics, control theory, and stochastic analysis, where non-self-adjoint and continuous spectral features are fundamental. The results unify and extend existing operator-theoretic techniques, fostering interdisciplinary advances in mathematics, physics, and engineering.