Bounds on multiplicities of Laplace operator eigenvalues on surfaces (Q1650231)

Let \(M\) be a Riemannian compact surface with \(b_0(\partial M)\) boundary components and Euler characteristic number \(\chi(M)\) such that \(b_0(\partial M)+\chi(M)<0\). The author proves the following bound for the \(k\)-th eigenvalue multiplicity \(m(k)\) of the Laplace operator (for any boundary condition) or the Steklov operator \[ m(k)\leq 2k-2(b_0(\partial M)+\chi(M))+C \] with \(C=1\). The inequality with \(C=3\) has been established in various cases and for the Steklov multiplicity the better estimate \(m(k)\leq k-2\chi(M)+3\) is known (see \textit{M. Karpukhin} et al. [Ann. Inst. Fourier 64, No. 6, 2481--2502 (2014; Zbl 1321.58027)] for detailed references). The proof is inspired from the works by \textit{N. Nadirashvili} [Math. USSR Sb. 61, No. 1, 225--238 (1988; Zbl 0672.35049)] and \textit{T. Hoffmann-Ostenhof} et al. [Geom. Funct. Anal. 9, No. 6, 1169--1188 (1999; Zbl 0949.35102)]. It is based on the nodal set properties, such as the Courant theorem on the number of nodal components and the Bers theorem on the local shape of the eigenfunctions. The author introduces a ``star fibration'' taking in account the local star shape of the nodal set, so that the topological arguments of Nadirashvili et al. could be easily expressed.