Non-selfadjoint operator functions

Abstract: Spectral properties of linear operators and operator functions can be used to analyze models in nature. When dispersion and damping are taken into account, the dependence of the spectral parameter is in general non-linear and the operators are not selfadjoint.In this thesis non-selfadjoint operator functions are studied and several methods for obtaining properties of unbounded non-selfadjoint operator functions are presented. Equivalence is used to characterize operator functions since two equivalent operators share many significant characteristics such as the spectrum and closeness. Methods of linearization and other types of equivalences are presented for a class of unbounded operator matrix functions.To study properties of the spectrum for non-selfadjoint operator functions, the numerical range is a powerful tool. The thesis introduces an optimal enclosure of the numerical range of a class of unbounded operator functions. The new enclosure can be computed explicitly, and it is investigated in detail. Many properties of the numerical range such as the number of components can be deduced from the enclosure. Furthermore, it is utilized to prove the existence of an infinite number of eigenvalues accumulating to specific points in the complex plane. Among the results are proofs of accumulation of eigenvalues to the singularities of a class of unbounded rational operator functions. The enclosure of the numerical range is also used to find optimal and computable estimates of the norm of resolvent and a corresponding enclosure of the ε-pseudospectrum.