Extremal eigenvalues of the Laplacian in a conformal class of metrics: the `conformal spectrum' (Q1415845)

Let \(M\) be a closed connected smooth manifold of dimension \(n\geq2\). Let \(\lambda_k(g)\) be the \(k^{th}\) eigenvalue of the Laplace-Beltrami operator defined by a Riemannian metric \(g\). Since \(\lambda_k(cg)=c^{-1}\lambda_k(g)\), one normalizes the metric \(g\) such that volume \(V(g)=1\). Let \([g]\) be the set of all metrics conformally equivalent to \(g\) and let \(\lambda_k^c(M,[g]):= \sup_{g_1\in[g],V(g)=1}\lambda_k(g_1)\). The authors discuss some basic properties of this invariant: Theorem A: Let \(g_s\) be the standard metric on the round sphere \(S^n\). Then \(\lambda_k^c(M,[g])\geq \lambda_k^c(S^n,[g_s])\). The authors show the conformal eigenvalues are all simple; the conformal spectrum consists of a strictly increasing sequence and the gap between two consecutive conformal eigenvalues is strictly bounded: Theorem B: For any \(k\geq0\), \(\lambda_{k+1}^c(M,[g])^{n/2}-\lambda_k^c(M,[g])^{n/2}\geq \lambda_1^c(S^n,[g_s])\). \smallbreak\noindent Let \(M_\gamma\) be an orientable compact surface of genus \(g\). Define the topological spectrum by setting \(\lambda_k^{\text{top}}(\gamma): =\sup\{\lambda_k(g):V(g)=1\}\). They show Theorem C: \(\gamma_k^{\text{top}}(\gamma+1)\geq\gamma_k^{\text{top}}(\gamma)\). A number of useful Corollaries are derived from these results.