Mathematics Colloquium 09-27-01

Mathematics Colloquium

Thursday, September 27 at 4pm in 317 Kerchof Hall


Steve Zelditch
(Johns Hopkins University)

"Highly excited quantum states"

Abstract:   This talk is about excited states of quantum systems, i.e. eigenfunctions of Laplacians or Schrodinger operators on Riemannian manifolds in the `high energy' limit as the eigenvalue tends to infinity. We are especially concerned with the size of the eigenfunctions (as measured in L^p), and the distribution of their zeros (nodal sets) and critical points. The main theme is how the global geometry of a Riemannian manifold influences the morphology of its eigenfunctions.

I will present several new results illustrating the influence (obtained in collaboration with B. Shiffman, C. Sogge and J. Toth.) I will also present slides illustrating the excited states in a number of settings of mathematical and physical interest.


Refreshments at 3:30 in 314 Kerchof Hall