Lower bounds on the Hausdorff measure of nodal sets (Q2428837)

Let \((M,g)\) be a compact smooth \(n\)-dimensional Riemannian manifold, let \(\phi_\lambda\) be an eigenfunction of the Laplacian \(\Delta\phi_\lambda=-\lambda^2\phi_\lambda\), and let \(N_{\phi_\lambda}:=\{x\in M:\phi_\lambda(x)=0\}\) be the associated nodal hypersurface. The authors show: \medbreak Theorem 1: There exists a constant \(C_g>0\) so that the (\(n-1\))-dimensional Riemannian hypersurface measure of \(N_{\phi_\lambda}\) is at least \(C_g\lambda^{{7\over 4}-{3n\over4}}\). \medbreak\noindent Similar lower bounds have been obtained by \textit{T. H. Colding} and \textit{W. P. Minicozzi II} [Commun. Math. Phys. 306, No. 3, 777--784 (2011; Zbl 1238.58020)] and by \textit{D. Mangoubi} [Commun. Partial Differ. Equations 36, No. 10-12, 2208--2212 (2011; Zbl 1232.58025)] (cf. also [\url{arXiv:1010.4579}]). The best previous lower bound was exponential in nature \(C^{-\lambda}\), shown by \textit{Q. Han} and \textit{F. H. Lin} [Nodal sets of solutions of elliptic partial different equations, (\url{http://www.nd.edu/~qhan/nodal.pdf})]. A number of examples are presented including flat tori, zonal spherical harmonics on \(S^2\), and Gaussian beams.