Characterization of the Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions of the Helmholtz Newtonian operator N^k

The Newtonian potential operator for the Helmholtz equation, which is represented by the volume integral with fundamental solution as kernel function, is of great importance for direct and inverse scattering of acoustic waves. In this paper, the eigensystem for the Newtonian potential operator is firstly shown to be equivalent to that for the Helmholtz equation with nonlocal boundary condition for a bounded and simply connected Lipschitz-regular domain. Then, we compute explicitly the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions of the Newtonian potential operator when it is defined in a 3-dimensional ball. Furthermore, the eigenvalues’ asymptotic behavior is demonstrated. To illustrate the behavior of certain eigenfunctions, some numerical simulations are included.