Department of Mathematics

© 2016 Elsevier Inc. In this article we prove the existence, uniqueness, and simplicity of a negative eigenvalue for a class of integral operators whose kernel is of the form |x−y|ρ, 0<ρ≤1, x,y∈[−a,a]. We also provide two different ways of producing recursive formulas for the Rayleigh functions (i.e., recursion formulas for power sums) of the eigenvalues of this integral operator when ρ=1, providing means of approximating this negative eigenvalue. These methods offer recursive procedures for dealing with the eigenvalues of a one-dimensional Laplacian with non-local boundary conditions which commutes with an integral operator having a harmonic kernel. The problem emerged in recent work by one of the authors [48]. We also discuss extensions in higher dimensions and links with distance matrices.