No label defined (Q4379899)

Let \((\Sigma,g)\) be a closed two-dimensional Riemannian manifold of genus \(\gamma\). \textit{P. C. Yang} and \textit{S.-T. Yau} have shown [Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa, Cl. Sci., IV. Ser. 7, 55-61 (1980; Zbl 0446.58017)] that the smallest positive Laplace eigenvalue of \((\Sigma,g)\) satisfies \[ \lambda_1(\Sigma,g)\cdot\text{area}(\Sigma, g)\leq 8\pi \Biggl[{\gamma+ 3\over 2}\Biggr]. \] This generalizes \textit{J. Hersch}'s result [C. R. Acad. Sci., Paris, Sér. A 270, 1645-1648 (1970; Zbl 0224.73083)] for spheres, i.e., \(\gamma= 0\). In the spherical case one also knows that equality holds exactly for the standard metric. The aim of the present paper is to improve the estimate for tori \((\gamma= 1)\) and to try an equality discussion. Let \(H= \{(a,b)\in \mathbb{R}^2\mid 0\leq a\leq 1/2, b>0, a^2+ b^2\geq 1\}\) be the moduli space of flat metrics on \(\Sigma= T^2\) of area 1. The main result is the following theorem. Theorem. Let \(g\) be a metric on \(T^2\) conformally equivalent to \(g_{ab}\), \((a,b)\in H\). Then \[ \lambda_1(T^2, g)\cdot\text{area}(T^2, g)\leq {3\pi^2\over 2b} \Biggl(a^2+ b^2+{5\over 3}\Biggr). \] Equality holds if and only if \(a^2+ b^2= 1\) and \(g\) is flat (i.e., homothetic to \(g_{ab}\)). For the entire collection see [Zbl 0882.00016].