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The Laplacian with Robin Boundary Conditions on Arbitrary Domains

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Abstract

Using a capacity approach, we prove in this article that it is always possible to define a realization Δμ of the Laplacian on L 2(Ω) with generalized Robin boundary conditions where Ω is an arbitrary open subset of R n and μ is a Borel measure on the boundary ∂Ω of Ω. This operator Δμ generates a sub-Markovian C 0-semigroup on L 2(Ω). If dμ=β dσ where β is a strictly positive bounded Borel measurable function defined on the boundary ∂Ω and σ the (n−1)-dimensional Hausdorff measure on ∂Ω, we show that the semigroup generated by the Laplacian with Robin boundary conditions Δβ has always Gaussian estimates with modified exponents. We also obtain that the spectrum of the Laplacian with Robin boundary conditions in L p(Ω) is independent of p∈[1,∞). Our approach constitutes an alternative way to Daners who considers the (n−1)-dimensional Hausdorff measure on the boundary. In particular, it allows us to construct a conterexample disproving Daners' closability conjecture.

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Arendt, W., Warma, M. The Laplacian with Robin Boundary Conditions on Arbitrary Domains. Potential Analysis 19, 341–363 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024181608863

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