Quantum waveguides with small periodic perturbations: gaps and edges of Brillouin zones

Abstract

We consider small perturbations of the Laplace operator in a multi-dimensional cylindrical domain by second order differential operators with periodic coefficients. We show that under certain non-degeneracy conditions such perturbations can open a gap in the continuous spectrum and give the leading asymptotic terms for the gap edges. We also estimate the values of quasi-momentum at which the spectrum edges are attained. The general machinery is illustrated by several new examples in two- and three-dimensional structures.