An Oscillation Theorem for Discrete Eigenvalue Problems

Abstract

In this paper we consider problems that consist of symplectic difference systems depending on an eigenvalue parameter, together with self-adjoint boundary conditions. Such symplectic difference systems contain as important cases linear Hamiltonian difference systems and also Sturm-Liouville difference equations of second and of higher order. The main result of this paper is an oscillation theorem that relates the number of eigenvalues to the number of generalized zeros of solutions.