Fractional Laplace operator in two dimensions, approximating matrices, and related spectral analysis

In this work we review some proposals to define the fractional Laplace operator in two or more spatial variables and we provide their approximations using finite differences or the so-called Matrix Transfer Technique. We study the structure of the resulting large matrices from the spectral viewpoint. In particular, by considering the matrix-sequences involved, we analyze the extreme eigenvalues, we give estimates on conditioning, and we study the spectral distribution in the Weyl sense using the tools of the theory of Generalized Locally Toeplitz matrix-sequences. Furthermore, we give a concise description of the spectral properties when non-constant coefficients come into play. Several numerical experiments are reported and critically discussed.