A classical approach to eigenvalue problems associated with a pair of mixed regular Sturm-Liouville equations. I.
We prove that any linear ordinary differential operator with complex-valued coefficients continuous in an interval I can be factored into a product of first-order operators globally defined on I. This generalizes a theorem of Mammana for the case of real-valued coefficients.
In this follow-up on the work of Fefferman-Seco [FS] an improved condition for the discrete eigenvalues of the operator -d2 / dx2 + V(x) is established for V(x) satisfying certain hypotheses. The eigenvalue condition in [FS] establishes eigenvalues of this operator to within a small error. Through an obervation due to C. Fefferman, the order of accuracy can be improved if a certain condition is true. This paper improves on the result obtained in [FS] by showing that this condition does indeed hold....