Eigenvalue estimates for 3-Sasaki structures (Q6060796)

Let \(M\) be a \((4n+3)\)-dimensional compact differentiable manifold equipped with a \(3\)-Sasaki structure \((g,\xi)\) consisting of a Riemannian metric \(g\) and a triple \(\xi=(\xi_1,\xi_2,\xi_3)\) of associated Reeb vector fields. The horizontal distribution \(\mathcal H\) given by the \(g\)-orthogonal complement of \(\operatorname{span}\{\xi_1,\xi_2,\xi_3\}\) has a natural sub-Riemannian structure, and consequently a sub-Laplacian \(\Delta_{\mathcal H}\) acting on smooth functions on \(M\). The authors prove that the first non-zero eigenvalue of \(\Delta_{\mathcal H}\) satisfies \(\lambda_1(\Delta_{\mathcal H})\geq 8n\), provided \(g\) does not have constant sectional curvature. This improves the Lichnerowicz-Obata-type lower bound \(\lambda_1(\Delta_{\mathcal H})\geq 4n\) proved by \textit{S. Ivanov} et al. [Nonlinear Anal., Theory Methods Appl., Ser. A, Theory Methods 93, 51--61 (2013; Zbl 1285.53029); J. Geom. Anal. 24, No. 2, 756--778 (2014; Zbl 1303.53060)]. In the particular case of \(n=1\) (i.e., \(\dim M=7\)), the authors also estimate the second eigenvalue of \(\Delta_{\mathcal H}\). In addition, the paper also considers the first eigenvalue of the Laplace-Beltrami operator associated to any Riemannian metric on \(M\) in the (\(1\)-parameter) canonical variation of the \(3\)-Sasaki metric \(g\).