Perturbations of discrete elliptic operators

Given V a finite set, a self-adjoint operator K on C(V) is called elliptic if it is positive semi-definite and its lowest eigenvalue is simple. Therefore, there exists a unique, up to sign, unitary function omega is an element of C(V) satisfying K(omega) = lambda omega and then, K is named (lambda, omega)-elliptic. Clearly, a (lambda, omega)-elliptic operator is singular iff lambda = 0. Examples of elliptic operators are the so-called Schrodinger operators on finite connected networks, as well as the signless Laplacian of connected bipartite networks. A (lambda, omega)-elliptic operator, K, defines an automorphism on omega(perpendicular to) whose inverse is called orthogonal Green operator of K. We aim here at studying the effect of a perturbation of K on its orthogonal Green operator. The perturbation here considered is performed by adding a self-adjoint and positive semi-definite operator to K. As particular cases we consider the effect of changing the conductances on semi-definite Schodinger operators on finite connected networks and on the signless Laplacian of connected bipartite networks. The expression obtained for the perturbed network is explicitly given in terms of the orthogonal Green function of the original network. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.