# Eigenvalues and eigenfunction of integral operator

Suppose we are given an integral operator $g(x)=f(x)+ \lambda \int_{0}^{\infty}K(x,t)f(t)dt$

with the kernel $K(x,t)=K(t,x)$. According Hilbert-Schmidt theory then, the function can be obtained as

$f(x)= \sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{c_{n}}{\lambda _{n} -\lambda}\phi_{n} (x)$

with $\phi_{n} (x)$ being the eigenfucnctions of the integral kernel $K(x,t) = K(t,x)$. How can I get these eigenfunctions? Thanks.

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It depends on what $K$ is! The eigenvalue equation is an equation and you have to solve it. –  Qiaochu Yuan May 30 '12 at 18:43
ok but how about the eigenfunctions ?? –  Jose Garcia May 30 '12 at 18:48
You simply have to find those too. I don't really understand what you're asking. Of course in the finite-dimensional case you can compute a determinant to find the eigenvalues and then row reduce to find their eigenvectors but in the infinite-dimensional case you really just have to solve the equation! Is there a particular $K$ you're struggling with? –  Qiaochu Yuan May 30 '12 at 18:51
isn't there a general method to get eigenfunctions ??, i have searched many books of integral equation and found little info about it –  Jose Garcia May 30 '12 at 20:05
Again, it depends on what $K$ is. I don't think there's anything reasonable that can be said about the general problem. For an arbitrary $K$ the eigenfunctions should not be expressible in terms of elementary functions, so what does it even mean to know what they are? –  Qiaochu Yuan May 30 '12 at 20:06