The spectral geometry of Riemannian submersions for manifolds with boundary (Q5928680)

Let \((M,g)\) be a compact Riemannian manifold with smooth non-empty boundary \(\partial M\). Let \(\Delta_p\) be the associated \(p\) form valued Laplacian. The author shows that with Dirichlet, relative, or absolute boundary conditions, then \(\Delta_p\) is self-adjoint and non-negative. By contrast, with Neumann boundary conditions, the author shows, somewhat surprisingly, that \(\Delta_p\) can have a finite number of negative eigenvalues. If \(\pi:Z\rightarrow Y\) is a Riemannian submersion in this context, the author shows pull back always preserves Dirichlet and absolute boundary conditions; the author gives necessary and sufficient conditions in terms of geometrical data that pullback preserves Neumann and/or relative boundary conditions. The author extends previous results concerning when eigenvalues can change to this setting. In marked contrast to the closed setting where eigenvalues can only increase, the author shows that the pull back of an eigen \(p\) form on \(Y\) can be an eigen \(p\) form on \(Z\) with a decreased eigenvalue when Neumann boundary conditions are imposed.