Dirac eigenvalue estimates on surfaces (Q697337)

If \(g\) is a Riemannian metric on the \(2\)-sphere, and if \(\lambda\) is a Dirac eigenvalue, then the second author showed previously [Math. Ann. 293, No. 1, 39-46 (1992; Zbl 0741.58046)] \[ \lambda^2\geq{4\pi\over\text{Area}}. \] The authors generalize this result to surfaces of higher genus -- they establish explicit geometric lower bounds for the first eigenvalue of the Dirac Laplacian on a closed Riemann surface \(M\) of genus \(g\geq 1\) if the associated Arf invariant of the spin structure is \(+1\). This estimate involves two geometric quantities -- the area of the surface and the spin-cut diameter \(\delta(M)\). Here \(\delta(M)\) is defined by looking at distances between loops in the surface along which the spin structure is nontrivial and which are linearly independent in homology: Theorem. Let \(M\) be a closed surface of genus \(g\geq 1\) with a Riemannian metric and a spin structure of Arf invariant \(+1\). If \(\lambda\) is an eigenvalue of the Dirac operator, then \[ |\lambda|\geq{{2\sqrt\pi}\over{(2g+1)\sqrt{\text{Area}(M)}}}-{1\over\delta(M)}. \] The authors use this estimate to get a corresponding estimate on the Willmore integral of an embedded torus in \(R^3\). They also establish estimates for non-compact complete surfaces of finite area.