Improvements for eigenfunction averages: an application of geodesic beams (Q6168531)

Let \((M,g)\) be an \(n\)-dimensional smooth compact Riemannian manifold without boundary. The authors consider sequences of Laplace eigenfunctions \(\{\phi_\lambda\}\) solving \[ (-\Delta_g-\lambda^2)\phi_\lambda=0,\quad \|\phi_\lambda\|_{L^2(M)}= 1. \] They study the average oscillatory behavior of \(\phi_\lambda\) when restricted to a submanifold \(H\subset M\) without boundary. In particular, the behavior of the integral average \(\int_H \phi_\lambda d\sigma_H\), as \(\lambda\to\infty\), where \(\sigma_H\) is the volume measure on \(H\) induced by the Riemannian metric, is examined. \par Given a smooth submanifold \(H\subset M\) of codimension \(k\ge 1\), the authors find conditions on the pair \((M,H)\), even when \(H=\{x\}\), for which \[ \left \vert\int_H \phi_\lambda d\sigma_H\right \vert=O\left (\frac{{\lambda}^{\frac{k-1}2}}{\sqrt{\log\lambda}}\right ) \mbox{or}\, \vert\phi_\lambda (x)\vert=O\left (\frac{{\lambda}^{\frac{k-1}2}}{\sqrt{\log\lambda}}\right ),\tag{1} \] as \(\lambda\to\infty\). This article improves and extends all existing bounds on averages over submanifolds for eigenfunctions of the Laplacian, including those on \(L^\infty\) norms (without additional assumptions on the eigenfunctions). \par For example, it is shown that if \((M,g)\) is a surface with Anosov geodesic flow, then there are logarithmically improved averages for any \(H\subset M\). Weaker conditions than having no conjugate points which guarantee \(\sqrt{\log\lambda}\) improvements for the \(L^\infty\) norm of eigenfunctions are obtained. \par The authors find the geometric arguments needed to apply geodesic beam techniques and improve upon the previous results.