Isoparametric foliation and Yau conjecture on the first eigenvalue (Q355075)

A well-known conjecture of Yau says that the first eigenvalue of every closed minimal hypersurface \(M^n\) in the unit sphere \(S^{n+1}(1)\) is just \(n\). Up to now, it is far from being solved. The main result of this paper is Theorem 1.1. Let \(M^n\) be a closed minimal isoparametric hypersurface in \(S^{n+1}(1)\). Then \(\lambda_1(M^n)=n\). This result is based on the classification of isoparametric hypersurfaces in \(S^{n+1}(1)\) and a series of works by many authors, including [\textit{H. Muto} et al., Tôhoku Math. J., II. Ser. 36, 253--267 (1984; Zbl 0528.53048); \textit{M. Kotani}, ibid. 37, 523--532 (1985; Zbl 0578.53043); \textit{B. Solomon}, Am. J. Math. 112, No. 2, 157--203, 205--241 (1990; Zbl 0704.53045); \textit{H. Muto}, Math. Z. 197, No. 4, 531--549 (1988; Zbl 0652.53039)]. The contribution of this paper to the main result Theorem 1.1 is Theorem 1.2. Let \(M^n\) be a closed minimal isoparametric hypersurface in the unit sphere \(S^{n+1}(1)\) with four distinct principal curvatures and \(m_1,m_2\geq 2\). Then \(\lambda_1(M^n)=n\). The authors claim that the more fascinating part of this paper is the determination of the eigenvalues of the focal submanifolds in \(S^{n+1}(1)\). The detail is Theorem 1.3. Let \(M_1\) be the focal submanifold of an isoparametric hypersurface with four distinct principal curvatures in the unit sphere \(S^{n+1}(1)\) with codimension \(m_1+1\). If \(\dim M_1\geq \frac 23 n+1\) , then \(\lambda_1(M_1)=\dim M_1\) with multiplicity \(n+2\). A similar conclusion holds for \(M_2\) under an analogous condition.