Eigenvalue Distribution of Positive Definite Kernels on Unbounded Domains

Abstract.

We study eigenvalues of positive definite kernels of L² integral operators on unbounded real intervals. Under the assumptions of integrability and uniform continuity of the kernel on the diagonal the operator is compact and trace class. We establish sharp results which determine the eigenvalue distribution as a function of the smoothness of the kernel and its decay rate at infinity along the diagonal. The main result deals at once with all possible orders of differentiability and all possible rates of decay of the kernel. The known optimal results for eigenvalue distribution of positive definite kernels in compact intervals are particular cases. These results depend critically on a 2-parameter differential family of inequalities for the kernel which is a consequence of positivity and is a differential generalization of diagonal dominance.