Spherical harmonics with maximal \(L^p\) (\(2<p\leq 6\)) norm growth (Q254275)

Let \(\Delta_g\) be the scalar Laplacian of a smooth compact Riemannian manifold \((M,g)\) of dimension \(n\) without boundary. Let \(\{u_j\}\) for \(j=1,2,\dots\) be the normalized \(L^2\) eigenvalues so \(\Delta_gu_j=\lambda_j^2u_j\), where \(0=\lambda_0<\lambda_1<\dots\). One knows (see \textit{C. D. Sogge} [Duke Math. J. 53, 43--65 (1986; Zbl 0636.42018); J. Funct. Anal. 77, No. 1, 123--138 (1988; Zbl 0641.46011)]) that \(\|u_j\|_p\smash{\mathop{\sim}\limits^{<}}\lambda_j^{\sigma(p)}\) for suitably chosen \(\sigma(p)\). Take \((M,g)\) to be the standard sphere with the round metric. Let \(\mathbb{SH}_k\) be the set of homogeneous harmonic polynomials of degree \(k\); these restrict to eigenfunctions on the sphere with associated eigenvalue \(k(k+1)\); the multiplicity of this eigenvalue is given by \(\dim(\mathbb{SH}_k)=2k+1\) and every eigenfunction arises in this way. In relation to Sogge's estimate, the authors show the following theorem. \smallbreak {Theorem.} There exists a constant \(0<D<1\) so that, for all \(k\geq0\), if \(m\) is the greatest integer not greater than \(D(2k+1)\), then one can find an orthonormal set \(\{u_i\}\) for \(1\leq i\leq m\) in \(\mathbb{SH}_k\) such that \(\|u_i\|_p\geq\frac12C_pk^{\sigma(p)}\) for all \(i\) and for \(2<p\leq 6\). For example, \(D=\frac1{400}\) will do.