Boundary localization of transmission eigenfunctions in spherically stratified media

Abstract

Consider the transmission eigenvalue problem for $u \in H^1(Ω)$ and $v\in H^1(Ω)$ associated with $(Ω; σ, \mathbf{n}^2)$, where $Ω$ is a ball in $\mathbb{R}^N$, $N=2,3$. If $σ$ and $\mathbf{n}$ are both radially symmetric, namely they are functions of the radial parameter $r$ only, we show that there exists a sequence of transmission eigenfunctions $\{u_m, v_m\}_{m\in\mathbb{N}}$ associated with $k_m\rightarrow+\infty$ as $m\rightarrow+\infty$ such that the $L^2$-energies of $v_m$'s are concentrated around $\partialΩ$. If $σ$ and $\mathbf{n}$ are both constant, we show the existence of transmission eigenfunctions $\{u_j, v_j\}_{j\in\mathbb{N}}$ such that both $u_j$ and $v_j$ are localized around $\partialΩ$. Our results extend the recent studies in [15,16]. Through numerics, we also discuss the effects of the medium parameters, namely $σ$ and $\mathbf{n}$, on the geometric patterns of the transmission eigenfunctions.