Eigenvalues of the Laplacian for sphere bundles (Q1909717)

The authors deal with the eigenvalues of the Laplacian for sphere bundles. They prove the following theorem: Theorem. Let \(E\) be a real vector bundle over \(Y\) of odd fiber dimension \(\nu \geq 3\). Given the unit sphere bundle \(S(E)\) of \(E\) an arbitrary Riemannian metric. Let \(N(\mu, p, S(E))\) be the eigenspace of the \(p\)-form valued Laplacian \(\Delta^{S(E)}_p\) on \(S(E)\). Let \(0 \neq \Phi\) be a harmonic \(p\)-form on \(Y\). If \(\pi^* \Phi \in N(\mu, p, S(E))\), then \(\mu = 0\). The proof of the theorem is global and rests on the machinery of algebraic topology. It is also extremely short and conceptual.