On the first eigenvalue of minimal submanifolds (Q1373449)

In [Am. J. Math. 106, 1033-1065 (1984; Zbl 0575.53038)], \textit{S.-Y. Cheng, P. Li} and \textit{S.-T. Yau} proved that if \(M\) is a minimal \(n\)-dimensional submanifold of a space form \(N(c)\) of constant curvature \(c=1,0,-1\), and \(D\) is a \(C^2\) compact domain in \(M\) such that \(D\subset B(a)\), a geodesic ball of radius \(a\) in \(N(c)\), with \(a\leq \pi/2\) if \(c=1\) and \(a<\infty\) otherwise, then \(\lambda_1(D)\), the first eigenvalue of \(D\), is bounded from below by \(\lambda_1(B_a(n,c))\), the first eigenvalue of \(B_a(n,c)\), the geodesic ball of radius \(a\) in an \(n\)-dimensional space form of constant curvature \(c\). In the paper under review, the author generalizes this result to the case where \(N\) is a Riemannian manifold with sectional curvature bounded from above by a constant \(c\). Actually, it is shown that if \(D\) is a compact domain with \(C^1\)-boundary in \(M\) such that \(D\subset B_a(p)\), a geodesic ball in \(N\) of center \(p\) and radius \(a\), and either \(a<i(p)\) when \(c<0\) or \(a<\min\{ i(p), \pi/2\sqrt{c} \}\) when \(c>0\), then \(\lambda_1(D)\geq \lambda_1(B_a(n,c))\). Here \(i(p)\) is the injectivity radius of \(N\) at the center \(p\). As remarked by the author, when the domain \(D\) has \(C^2\)-boundary, this theorem can be obtained from the heat kernel comparison theorem of \textit{S. Markvorsen} [Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 97, 479-482 (1986; Zbl 0597.53049)]. On the other hand, the proof of the author is based on a lemma which holds when \(D\) has piecewise smooth boundary. Hence, the result is still valid in this case.