On Berger's isoperimetric problem (Q6965754)

Berger's isoperimetric problem asks whether the flat equilateral torus maximizes the quantity \(\lambda_1(g)A(g)\) among all Riemannian metrics on the torus, where \(\lambda_1\) denotes the first positive Laplace eigenvalue and \(A(g)\) the area. This problem was resolved by \textit{N. Nadirashvili} [Geom. Funct. Anal. 6, No. 5, 877--897 (1996; Zbl 0868.58079)], who proved that the equilateral flat torus is the unique \(\lambda_1\)-maximal surface, using variational methods and a characterization of extremal metrics via minimal immersions into spheres. The present paper gives a new proof of this result.\N\NThe proof combines the methods of \textit{A. El Soufi} and \textit{S. Ilias} [Math. Ann. 275, 257--267 (1986; Zbl 0675.53045); Proc. Am. Math. Soc. 131, No. 5, 1611--1618 (2003; Zbl 1027.58010)] and \textit{A. El Soufi} et al. [in: Séminaire de théorie spectrale et géométrie. Année 1996-1997. St. Martin D'Hères: Univ. de Grenoble I, Institut Fourier. 17--23 (1997; Zbl 0902.58003)], which relate upper bounds for the first eigenvalue to areas of suitable conformal immersions into spheres, together with sharp conformal area computations due to Bryant for flat tori. By adapting these techniques to an explicit family of flat tori and carrying out the necessary estimates, the author obtains a refined argument for Berger's isoperimetric problem. The author's approach also yields improved upper bounds for the first conformal eigenvalue within a fixed conformal class.