On nodal lines of Neumann eigenfunctions (Q1860590)

New results are proved and a new method is presented in studying nodal lines (lines which include sets of zeros) of second eigenfunctions for the Neumann problem for the Laplacian in a planar domain. The new method is an extension of the ``mirror coupling'' method based on Brownian motion, which is also discussed. Being more involved, the new one allows to study a wider class of domains. It is believed that the method and results may be useful in the problem of locating maximum values of second eigenfunctions, in particular, to study the class of planar domains for which the maximum is attained on the boundary. A bibliography on a recent progress in the field is given.