On nodal sets and nodal domains on \(S^2\) and \(\mathbb R^2\) (Q2477562)

The authors discuss possible topological configurations of nodal sets, in particular the number of their components, for spherical harmonics on \(S^2\). Observe that the nodal set is always invariant under the antipodal map. The main theorem ist then: Theorem 1.1. Let \(0 < m\leq n\) and let \(n-m\) be even. For every set of \(m\) disjoint closed curves on the sphere whose union \(E\) is invariant under the antipodal map, there exists an eigenfunction of degree \(n\) whose zero set is equivalent to \(E\). This result is used to improve the known results on the shape of of the nodal set and bounds for its number of components. It improves in particular previous results by \textit{H. Lewy} [Commun. Partial Differ. Equations 2, 1233--1244 (1977; Zbl 0377.31008)]. Finally, the authors construct an example of a solution of \(\Delta u=u\) on \(\mathbb R^2\) that has only two nodal domains.