On the null and nonzero fields for true and spurious eigenvalues of annular and confocal elliptical membranes

In this paper, the dual boundary element method (BEM) and the null-field boundary integral equation method (BIEM) are both employed to solve two-dimensional eigenproblems. The positions of true and spurious eigenvalues for circular, elliptical, annular and confocal elliptical membranes are analytically examined in the continuous system and numerically studied in the discrete system. To analytically study eigenproblems, the polar and elliptical coordinates in conjunction with the Bessel functions, the Mathieu functions, the Fourier series and eigenfunction expansions are adopted. The fundamental solution is expanded into the degenerate kernel while the boundary densities of circular and elliptical boundaries are expanded by using the Fourier series and eigenfunction expansion, respectively. Dirichlet and Neumann eigenproblems are both considered as well as simply and doubly-connected domains are both addressed. By employing the singular value decomposition (SVD) technique in the discrete system, the common right unitary vectors corresponding to the true eigenvalues for the singular and hypersingular formulations are found while the common left unitary vectors corresponding to the spurious eigenvalues are obtained for the singular formulation or hypersingular formulation. True eigenvalues depend on the boundary condition while spurious eigenvalues depend on the approach, the singular formulation or hypersingular formulation of BEM/BIEM. Nonzero field in the domain are analytically derived and are numerically verified in case of the true eigenvalue while the interior null field and nonzero field for the complementary domain are obtained in case of the spurious eigenvalue. Four examples, circular, elliptical, annular and confocal elliptical membranes, are considered to demonstrate the finding of the present paper. After comparing with the analytical and numerical results, good agreements are made. The dual BEM displays the dual structure in the unitary vector and the null field.