We consider an acoustic waveguide modeled as follows:

$ \left \{\begin {matrix}
\Delta u+k^2(1+V)u=0& in & \Omega= \mathbb{R} \times]0,1[\\
\frac{\partial u}{\partial y}=0& on & \partial \Omega
\end{matrix}\right.$

where $u$ denotes the complex valued pressure, k is the frequency and $V \in L^\infty(\Omega)$ is a compactly supported potential.
It is well-known that they may exist non trivial solutions $u$ in $L^2(\Omega)$, called trapped modes. Associated eigenvalues $\lambda = k^2$ are embedded in the essential spectrum $\mathbb{R}^+$. They can be computed as the real part of the complex spectrum of a non-self-adjoint eigenvalue problem, defined by using the so-called Perfectly Matched Layers (which consist in a complex dilation in the infinite direction) [1].
We show here that it is possible, by modifying in particular the parameters of the Perfectly Matched Layers, to define new complex spectra which include, in addition to trapped modes, frequencies where the potential $V$ is, in some sense, invisible to one incident wave.
Our approach allows to extend to higher dimension the results obtained in [2] on a 1D model problem.[-]

We consider the operator $\mathcal{A}_h = -h^2 \Delta + iV$ in the semi-classical limit $h \to 0$, where $V$ is a smooth real potential with no critical points. We obtain both the left margin of the spectrum, as well as resolvent estimates on the left side of this margin. We extend here previous results obtained for the Dirichlet realization of $\mathcal{A}_h$ by removing significant limitations that were formerly imposed on $V$. In addition, we apply our techniques to the more general Robin boundary condition and to a transmission problem which is of significant interest in physical applications.[-]

The Invariant Subspace Problem for (separable) Hilbert spaces is a long-standing open question that traces back to Jonhn Von Neumann's works in the fifties asking, in particular, if every bounded linear operator acting on an infinite dimensional separable Hilbert space has a non-trivial closed invariant subspace. Whereas there are well-known classes of bounded linear operators on Hilbert spaces that are known to have non-trivial, closed invariant subspaces (normal operators, compact operators, polynomially compact operators,...), the question of characterizing the lattice of the invariant subspaces of just a particular bounded linear operator is known to be extremely difficult and indeed, it may solve the Invariant Subspace Problem.

In this talk, we will focus on those concrete operators that may solve the Invariant Subspace Problem, presenting some of their main properties, exhibiting old and new examples and recent results about them obtained in collaboration with Prof. Carl Cowen (Indiana University-Purdue University).[-]

Toeplitz matrices and operators constitute one of the most important and widely studied classes of non-self-adjoint operators. In this talk we consider truncated Toeplitz operators, a natural generalisation of finite Toeplitz matrices. They appear in various contexts, such as the study of finite interval convolution equations, signal processing, control theory, diffraction problems, hydrodynamics, elasticity, and they play a fundamental role in the study of complex symmetric operators. We will focus mainly on their invertibility and Fredholmness properties, showing in particular that they are equivalent after extension to block Toeplitz operators, and how this can be used to study the spectra of several classes of truncated Toeplitz operators.[-]