Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

Chris Judge

Publications and source records attributed to Chris Judge.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Affine mappings of translation surfaces: shrinking targets and Diophantine properties

Let $(X,\omega)$ be a translation surface whose Veech group $\Gamma$ is a lattice. We prove that the generic orbit of the group of affine homeomorphisms of $(X,\omega)$ can be used to approximate each point of $X$ with Diophantine precision. The proof utilizes an induced $SL_2(\mathbb{R})$-action on a fiber bundle $Y$ whose base is $SL_2(\mathbb{R})/\Gamma$ and whose fiber is $X$. We observe that this bundle embeds as an $SL_2(\mathbb{R})$-orbit closure in the moduli space of once marked translation surfaces, and hence we may invoke the spectral gap results of Avila and Gou\"ezel and a quantitative mean ergodic theorem for the $SL_2(\mathbb{R})$-action on the mean-zero, square-integrable functions on $Y$.

math.DS↗
arXiv2022

Spectral multiplicity and nodal sets for generic torus-invariant metrics

Let a torus $T$ act freely on a closed manifold $M$ of dimension at least two. We demonstrate that, for a generic $T$-invariant Riemannian metric $g$ on $M$, each real $\Delta_g$-eigenspace is an irreducible real representation of $T$ and, therefore, has dimension at most two. We also show that, for the generic $T$-invariant metric on $M$, if $u$ is a non-invariant real-valued $\Delta_g$-eigenfunction that vanishes on some $T$-orbit, then the nodal set of $u$ is a connected smooth hypersurface whose complement has exactly two connected components.

math.DG↗
arXiv2022

Some remarks on critical sets of Laplace eigenfunctions

We study the set of critical points of a solution to $\Delta u = \lambda \cdot u$ and in particular components of the critical set that have codimension 1. We show, for example, that if a second Neumann eigenfunction of a simply connected polygon $P$ has infinitely many critical points, then $P$ is a rectangle.

math.AP↗
arXiv2021

Critical points of Laplace eigenfunctions on polygons

We study the critical points of Laplace eigenfunctions on polygonal domains with a focus on the second Neumann eigenfunction. We show that if each convex quadrilaterals has no second Neumann eigenfunction with an interior critical point, then there exists a convex quadrilateral with an unstable critical point. We also show that each critical point of a second-Neumann eigenfunction on a Lip-1 polygon with no orthogonal sides is an acute vertex.

math.AP↗
arXiv2020

Haupt's theorem for strata of abelian differentials

Let S be a closed topological surface. Haupt's theorem provides necessary and sufficient conditions for a complex-valued character of the first integer homology group of S to be realized by integration against a complex-valued 1-form that is holomorphic with respect to some complex structure on S. We prove a refinement of this theorem that takes into account the divisor data of the 1-form.

math.GT↗
arXiv2017

Upper bounds for the spectral function on homogeneous spaces via volume growth

We use spectral embeddings to give upper bounds on the spectral function of the Laplace--Beltrami operator on homogeneous spaces in terms of the volume growth of balls. In the case of compact manifolds, our bounds extend the 1980 lower bound of Peter Li for the smallest positive eigenvalue to all eigenvalues. We also improve Li's bound itself. Our bounds translate to explicit upper bounds on the heat kernel for both compact and noncompact homogeneous spaces.

math.DG↗
arXiv2017

The maximum number of systoles for genus two Riemann surfaces with abelian differentials

In this article, we provide bounds on systoles associated to a holomorphic $1$-form $\omega$ on a Riemann surface $X$. In particular, we show that if $X$ has genus two, then, up to homotopy, there are at most $10$ systolic loops on $(X,\omega)$ and, moreover, that this bound is realized by a unique translation surface up to homothety. For general genus $g$ and a holomorphic 1-form $\omega$ with one zero, we provide the optimal upper bound, $6g-3$, on the number of homotopy classes of systoles. If, in addition, $X$ is hyperelliptic, then we prove that the optimal upper bound is $6g-5$.

math.GT↗
arXiv2016

Geodesics and nodal sets of Laplace eigenfunctions on hyperbolic manifolds

Let X be a manifold equipped with a complete Riemannian metric of constant negative curvature and finite volume. We demonstrate the finiteness of the collection of totally geodesic immersed hypersurfaces in X that lie in the zero-level set of some Laplace eigenfunction. For surfaces, we show that the number can be bounded just in terms of the area of the surface. We also provide constructions of geodesics in hyperbolic surfaces that lie in a nodal set but that do not lie in the fixed point set of a reflection symmetry.

math.DG↗
arXiv2014

Hyperbolic triangles without embedded eigenvalues

We consider the Neumann Laplacian acting on square-integrable functions on a triangle in the hyperbolic plane that has one cusp. We show that the generic such triangle has no eigenvalues embedded in its continuous spectrum. To prove this result we study the behavior of the real-analytic eigenvalue branches of a degenerating family of triangles. In particular, we use a careful analysis of spectral projections near the crossings of these eigenvalue branches with the eigenvalue branches of a model operator.

math.SP↗
arXiv2010

Ellipses in translation surfaces

We characterize subgroups of the mapping class group that stabilize a Teichmueller disk in terms of ellipses and strips that are immersed in the associated translation surface. In particular, we show that the space of immersed ellipses/strips that meet at least three cone points is naturally a (non-manifold) 2-dimensional cell complex. The topology of this complex and the geometry of its 0-cells determine the translation surface and its affine diffeomorphism group (up to the kernel of the differential).

math.GT↗
arXiv2010

Spectral simplicity and asymptotic separation of variables

We describe a method for comparing the real analytic eigenbranches of two families of quadratic forms that degenerate as t tends to zero. One of the families is assumed to be amenable to `separation of variables' and the other one not. With certain additional assumptions, we show that if the families are asymptotic at first order as t tends to 0, then the generic spectral simplicity of the separable family implies that the eigenbranches of the second family are also generically one-dimensional. As an application, we prove that for the generic triangle (simplex) in Euclidean space (constant curvature space form) each eigenspace of the Laplacian is one-dimensional. We also show that for all but countably many t, the geodesic triangle in the hyperbolic plane with interior angles 0, t, and t, has simple spectrum.

math.SP↗
arXiv2008

The eigenvalues of the Laplacian on domains with small slits

We introduce a small slit into a planar domain and study the resulting effect upon the eigenvalues of the Laplacian. In particular, we show that as the length of the slit tends to zero, each real-analytic eigenvalue branch tends to an eigenvalue of the original domain. By combining this with our earlier work (arXiv:math/0703616), we obtain the following application: The generic multiply connected polygon has simple spectrum.

math.SP↗
arXiv2008

Generic spectral simplicity of polygons

We study the Laplace operator with Dirichlet or Neumann boundary condition on polygons in the Euclidean plane. We prove that almost every simply connected polygon with at least four vertices has simple spectrum. We also address the more general case of geodesic polygons in a constant curvature space form.

math.SP↗