Spectral gap for stable process on convex planar double symmetric domains (Q2641457)

The authors obtain a variational formula for the spectral gap of the symmetric \(\alpha\)-stable process in a bounded domain in two-dimensional real space. By spectral gap is meant the difference between the first two eigenvalues of the coresponding semigroup. Of special interest are convex domains symmetric with respect to both coordinate axes. For rectangles, by aid of midconcavity [see \textit{R. Bañuelos} et al. Potential Anal. 24, No. 3, 205--221 (2006; Zbl 1105.31006)] of the first eigenfunction (whose properties are desribed in detail), sharp upper and lower bounds are obtained for the spectral gap.