# Periodic Functions

1. May 18, 2008

### Nusc

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
What kind of conditions do eigenvalues impose to ensure periodicity?
Is it plausible to say that irrational multiples of eigenvalues imply no harmonic oscillations, if so why?

2. Relevant equations

3. The attempt at a solution

2. May 18, 2008

### Dick

No, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Eigenvalues per se have nothing to do with periodicity.

3. May 19, 2008

### Nusc

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0 & -a & 0 & 0 \\ -a & 0 & -b & 0 \\ 0 & -b & 0 & -c \\ 0 & 0 & -c & 0\end{array}\right]$$

For any fixed a, I want to find b and c in terms of a such that lambda_i / lambda_ j is a rational number for every i,j=1,2,3,4 .

See, before I was working with

$$\left[\begin{array}{cccc}0 & -a & 0 & 0 \\ -a & 0 & -a & 0 \\ 0 & -a & 0 & -a \\ 0 & 0 & -a & 0\end{array}\right]$$

But that gave me irrational e-values if I put it into Maple and I don't want that.

Last edited: May 19, 2008
4. May 19, 2008

### Dick

Now that makes more sense. It also looks like a hard question. How about a=1, b=0, c=1? Is that good enough? What's this for anyway?

5. May 19, 2008

### Nusc

c and b must be in terms of a.

But forget that for now, how would I show that the eigenvalues are irrational for n>3 ? That's why I asked this guy in this thread https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=224954&page=3

how to find an equation for the eigenvalues.

6. May 19, 2008

### Dick

You can certainly get an expression for the eigenvalues in terms of a,b and c. You get a quartic equation to solve, but it only has l^4, l^2 and a constant term. So you can solve it with the quadratic equation. But how you enforce the condition that the ratio of roots is rational, I have no idea.