Leaky Quantum Graphs: A Review

Abstract

The aim of this review is to provide an overview of a recent work concerning ``leaky'' quantum graphs described by Hamiltonians given formally by the expression $-Δ-αδ(x-Γ)$ with a singular attractive interaction supported by a graph-like set in $\mathbb{R}^ν,\: ν=2,3$. We will explain how such singular Schrödinger operators can be properly defined for different codimensions of $Γ$. Furthermore, we are going to discuss their properties, in particular, the way in which the geometry of $Γ$ influences their spectra and the scattering, strong-coupling asymptotic behavior, and a discrete counterpart to leaky-graph Hamiltonians using point interactions. The subject cannot be regarded as closed at present, and we will add a list of open problems hoping that the reader will take some of them as a challenge.

42 pages, to appear in the proceedings of the Isaac Newton Institute programme "Analysis on Graphs and Applications"; the final version with minor improvements