We introduce a class of Jacobi operators with discrete spectra which is characterized by a simple convergence condition. With any operator J from this class we associate a characteristic function as an analytic function on a suitable domain, and show that its zero set actually coincides with the set of eigenvalues of J in that domain. Further we derive sufficient conditions under which the spectrum of J is approximated by spectra of truncated finite-dimensional Jacobi matrices. As an application we construct several examples of Jacobi matrices for which the characteristic function can be expressed in terms of special functions. In more detail we study the example where the diagonal sequence of J is linear while the neighboring parallels to the diagonal are constant.

A function F with simple and nice algebraic properties is defined on a subset of the space of complex sequences. Some special functions are expressible in terms of F, first of all the Bessel functions of first kind. A compact formula in terms of the function F is given for the determinant of a Jacobi matrix. Further we focus on the particular class of Jacobi matrices of odd dimension whose parallels to the diagonal are constant and whose diagonal depends linearly on the index. A formula is derived for the characteristic function. Yet another formula is presented in which the characteristic function is expressed in terms of the function F in a simple and compact manner. A special basis is constructed in which the Jacobi matrix becomes a sum of a diagonal matrix and a rank-one matrix operator. A vector-valued function on the complex plain is constructed having the property that its values on spectral points of the Jacobi matrix are equal to corresponding eigenvectors.

A class of orthogonal polynomials associated with Coulomb wave functions is introduced. These polynomials play a role analogous to that the Lommel polynomials do in the theory of Bessel functions. The measure of orthogonality for this new class is described explicitly. In addition, the orthogonality measure problem is also discussed on a more general level. Apart of this, various identities derived for the new orthogonal polynomials may be viewed as generalizations of some formulas known from the theory of Bessel functions. A key role in these derivations is played by a Jacobi (tridiagonal) matrix J L whose eigenvalues coincide with reciprocal values of the zeros of the regular Coulomb wave function F L (η, ρ). The spectral zeta function corresponding to the regular Coulomb wave function or, more precisely, to the respective tridiagonal matrix is studied as well.

Several examples of Jacobi matrices with an explicitly solvable spectral problem are worked out in detail. In all discussed cases the spectrum is discrete and coincides with the set of zeros of a special function. Moreover, the components of corresponding eigenvectors are expressible in terms of special functions as well. Our approach is based on a recently developed formalism providing us with explicit expressions for the characteristic function and eigenvectors of Jacobi matrices. This is done under an assumption of a simple convergence condition on matrix entries. Among the treated special functions there are regular Coulomb wave functions, confluent hypergeometric functions, q-Bessel functions and q-confluent hypergeometric functions. In addition, in the case of q-Bessel functions, we derive several useful identities.

We study location of eigenvalues of one-dimensional discrete Schrödinger operators with complex p -potentials for 1 ≤ p ≤ ∞. In the case of 1 -potentials, the derived bound is shown to be optimal. For p > 1, two different spectral bounds are obtained. The method relies on the Birman-Schwinger principle and various techniques for estimations of the norm of the Birman-Schwinger operator. V e n := υ n e n , ∀n ∈ Z.