Complete manifolds with bounded curvature and spectral gaps (Q288753)

The authors prove that for a given positive integer number \(k\) and a compact manifold \(M\) with noncompact covering manifold \(\widetilde M\), there is a metric on \(M\) such that the lifted metric on \(\widetilde M\) has at least \(k\) gaps in its \(L^2\) essential spectrum. The second main result is (from the article): Let \((M,g_0)\) be a complete noncompact Riemannian manifold of bounded curvature and positive injectivity radius. Given any positive integer \(k\) there is a metric \(g\) on \(M\) such that \((M,g)\) has bounded curvature and positive injectivity radius, the eigenvalues of \(g\) with respect to \(g_0\) are bounded above and below by positive constants, and the \(L^2\) essential spectrum of \(g\) has at least \(k\) gaps.