On the Steklov spectrum of covering spaces and total spaces (Q2680214)

The author first constructs a certain Dirichlet-to-Neumann map on Riemannian manifolds \(M\) with boundary and bounded geometry. In particular, if the bottom of the Dirichlet spectrum of \(M\) is strictly positive, it is shown that any \(f \in C_c^\infty(\partial M)\) admits a unique square-integrable harmonic extension \(\mathcal{H}f \in C^\infty(M)\), and that this extension satisfies \(\nu(\mathcal{H}f) \in L^2(\partial M)\), where \(\nu\) is the outward pointing normal to the boundary. Owning to this, the operator \[ \Lambda: C^\infty_c(\partial M) \subseteq L^2(\partial M) \to L^2(M), \qquad f \mapsto \nu(\mathcal{H}f), \] admits a unique Friedrichs extension, the spectrum of which is called the Steklov spectrum. Next, the author employs this construction to analyze the fundamental group of a connected, compact Riemannian manifold \(M\) with boundary: Denote by \(\tilde{M}\) the universal covering space of \(M\) (\(\tilde{M}\) will have bounded geometry, and the bottom of its Dirichlet spectrum is positive). Then the fundamental group \(\pi_1(M)\) is amenable if and only if the bottom of the Steklov spectrum of \(\tilde{M}\) is zero. This is an analog to \textit{R. Brooks}' [Comment. Math. Helv. 56, 581--598 (1981; Zbl 0495.58029)] classic theorem for closed Riemannian manifolds. In the third part of the paper, the author gives further application of \(\Lambda\) to Riemannain submersions arising from the action of a connected Lie group.