Quantum mechanics

Pure mathematics

Continued fraction

Remainder

Eigenvalues and eigenvectors

Physics

Mathematics

Eigenfunction

Exponential function

Mathematical analysis

Conjecture

Quasiperiodic function

Algebra over a field

Arithmetic

Annals of Mathematics

We determine exact exponential asymptotics of eigenfunctions and of corresponding transfer matrices of the almost Mathieu operators for all frequencies in the localization regime. This uncovers a universal structure in their behavior, governed by the continued fraction expansion of the frequency, explaining some predictions in physics literature. In addition it proves the arithmetic version of the frequency transition conjecture. Finally, it leads to an explicit description of several non-regularity phenomena in the corresponding non-uniformly hyperbolic cocycles, which is also of interest as both the first natural example of some of those phenomena and, more generally, the first non-artificial model where non-regularity can be explicitly studied.

Universal hierarchical structure of quasiperiodic eigenfunctions