 Mathieu characteristic value

The Mathieu characteristic values are the parameter values $a$ for which the Mathieu equation has the even periodic mode traditionally denoted ${\mathrm{ce}}_n$, or the odd periodic mode ${\mathrm{se}}_n$. They are eigenvalues of $-d^2/d{t}^2+2q\cos 2t$ with the corresponding periodic or antiperiodic boundary conditions. Their small-$q$ expansions can be derived by projecting onto a Fourier series and perturbing the resulting tridiagonal matrix.