Properties of Definite Bethe-Salpeter Eigenvalue Problems

The Bethe-Salpeter eigenvalue problem is solved in condense matter physics to estimate the absorption spectrum of solids. It is a structured eigenvalue problem. Its special structure appears in other approaches for studying electron excitation in molecules or solids also. When the Bethe-Salpeter Hamiltonian matrix is definite, the corresponding eigenvalue problem can be reduced to a symmetric eigenvalue problem. However, its special structure leads to a number of interesting spectral properties. We describe these properties that are crucial for developing efficient and reliable numerical algorithms for solving this class of problems.