Spectral isolation of bi-invariant metrics on compact Lie groups (Q609656)

Let \(\Delta\) be the Laplacian acting on functions on a compact connected Riemannian manifold \((M,g)\) of dimension \(m\). The spectrum \(Spec(M,g)\) is the collection of eigenvalues (counted with multiplicity) of \(\Delta\). It is well known that \(Spec(M,g)\) does not determine \((M,g)\) even up to diffeomorphism. Some properties (such as the volume and the dimension) are spectrally determined. The authors consider the special case in which \(M\) is a compact Lie group. Let \(L\) be the set of all left-invariant metrics on \(M\). The authors establish: Result. Let \(g_0\) be a bi-invariant metric on a compact connected Lie group \(G\). There exists a neighborhood \(U\) of \(g_0\) in \(L\) and an integer \(n\) so that: {\parindent5mm \begin{itemize}\item[1.] If \(g\in U\) satisfies \(vol(g)\leq vol(g_0)\) and also satisfies that the first \(n\) distinct eigenvalues (ignoring multiplicity) agree with those of \(g_0\), then \(g\) is isometric to \(g_0\). \item[2.] The metric \(g_0\) is spectrally isolated in \(L\). \item[3.] If \(G\) is simple, then the first two distinct non-zero eigenvalues together with the volume bound distinguish \(g_0\) within \(U\). \end{itemize}} One notes that the restriction that \(g_0\) be bi-invariant in this result is essential; there exist continuous families of isospectral families of left-invariant metrics on compact simple Lie groups [\textit{E. Proctor}, ``Isospectral metrics and potentials on classical compact simple Lie groups'', Mich. Math. J. 53, 305--318 (2005; Zbl 1089.58022)]; [\textit{D. Schueth}, ``Isospectral manifolds with different local geometries'', J. Reine Angew. Math. 534, 41--94 (2001; Zbl 0986.58016)]. One also notes that the restriction to a small neighborhood \(U\) of \(g_0\) is required since there exist non-trivial pairs of isospectral flat tori [\textit{J. H. Conway} and \textit{N. J. A. Sloane}, ``Four-dimensional lattices with the same theta series'', Int. Math. Res. Not. 1992, No.4, 93--96 (1992; Zbl 0770.11022)]; [\textit{J. W. Milnor}, ``Eigenvalues of the Laplace operator on certain manifolds'', Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 51, 542 (1964; Zbl 0124.31202)]. The authors conjecture that a bi-invariant metric on a compact simple Lie group is globally spectrally determined among left-invariant metrics and provide supporting evidence for this conjecture.