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Iosif Polterovich

Publications and source records attributed to Iosif Polterovich.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
arXiv2021

Stability of isoperimetric inequalities for Laplace eigenvalues on surfaces

We prove stability estimates for the isoperimetric inequalities for the first and the second nonzero Laplace eigenvalues on surfaces, both globally and in a fixed conformal class. We employ the notion of eigenvalues of measures and show that if a normalized eigenvalue is close to its maximal value, the corresponding measure must be close in the Sobolev space $W^{-1,2}$ to the set of maximizing measures. In particular, this implies a qualitative stability result: metrics almost maximizing the normalized eigenvalue must be $W^{-1,2}$-close to a maximal metric. Following this approach, we prove sharp quantitative stability of the celebrated Hersch's inequality for the first eigenvalue on the sphere, as well as of its counterpart for the second eigenvalue. Similar results are also obtained for the precise isoperimetric eigenvalue inequalities on the projective plane, torus, and Klein bottle. The square of the $W^{-1,2}$ distance to a maximizing measure in these stability estimates is controlled by the difference between the normalized eigenvalue and its maximal value, indicating that the maxima are in a sense nondegenerate. We construct examples showing that the power of the distance can not be improved, and that the choice of the Sobolev space $W^{-1,2}$ is optimal.

math.DG↗
arXiv2020

Inverse Steklov spectral problem for curvilinear polygons

This paper studies the inverse Steklov spectral problem for curvilinear polygons. For generic curvilinear polygons with angles less than $π$, we prove that the asymptotics of Steklov eigenvalues obtained in arXiv:1908.06455 determines, in a constructive manner, the number of vertices and the properly ordered sequence of side lengths, as well as the angles up to a certain equivalence relation. We also present counterexamples to this statement if the generic assumptions fail. In particular, we show that there exist non-isometric triangles with asymptotically close Steklov spectra. Among other techniques, we use a version of the Hadamard--Weierstrass factorisation theorem, allowing us to reconstruct a trigonometric function from the asymptotics of its roots.

math.SP↗
arXiv2020

Conformally maximal metrics for Laplace eigenvalues on surfaces

The paper is concerned with the maximization of Laplace eigenvalues on surfaces of given volume with a Riemannian metric in a fixed conformal class. A significant progress on this problem has been recently achieved by Nadirashvili-Sire and Petrides using related, though different methods. In particular, it was shown that for a given $k$, the maximum of the $k$-th Laplace eigenvalue in a conformal class on a surface is either attained on a metric which is smooth except possibly at a finite number of conical singularities, or it is attained in the limit while a "bubble tree" is formed on a surface. Geometrically, the bubble tree appearing in this setting can be viewed as a union of touching identical round spheres. We present another proof of this statement, developing the approach proposed by the second author and Y. Sire. As a side result, we provide explicit upper bounds on the topological spectrum of surfaces.

math.DG↗
arXiv2019

An isoperimetric inequality for Laplace eigenvalues on the sphere

We show that for any positive integer k, the k-th nonzero eigenvalue of the Laplace-Beltrami operator on the two-dimensional sphere endowed with a Riemannian metric of unit area, is maximized in the limit by a sequence of metrics converging to a union of k touching identical round spheres. This proves a conjecture posed by the second author in 2002 and yields a sharp isoperimetric inequality for all nonzero eigenvalues of the Laplacian on a sphere. Earlier, the result was known only for k=1 (J. Hersch, 1970), k=2 (N. Nadirashvili, 2002; R. Petrides, 2014) and k=3 (N. Nadirashvili and Y. Sire, 2017). In particular, we argue that for any k>=2, the supremum of the k-th nonzero eigenvalue on a sphere of unit area is not attained in the class of Riemannian metrics which are smooth outsitde a finite set of conical singularities. The proof uses certain properties of harmonic maps between spheres, the key new ingredient being a bound on the harmonic degree of a harmonic map into a sphere obtained by N. Ejiri.

math.DG↗
arXiv2019

Persistence barcodes and Laplace eigenfunctions on surfaces

We obtain restrictions on the persistence barcodes of Laplace-Beltrami eigenfunctions and their linear combinations on compact surfaces with Riemannian metrics. Some applications to uniform approximation by linear combinations of Laplace eigenfunctions are also discussed.

math.SP↗
arXiv2018

Steklov Spectral Geometry for Extrinsic Shape Analysis

We propose using the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator as an extrinsic alternative to the Laplacian for spectral geometry processing and shape analysis. Intrinsic approaches, usually based on the Laplace-Beltrami operator, cannot capture the spatial embedding of a shape up to rigid motion, and many previous extrinsic methods lack theoretical justification. Instead, we consider the Steklov eigenvalue problem, computing the spectrum of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator of a surface bounding a volume. A remarkable property of this operator is that it completely encodes volumetric geometry. We use the boundary element method (BEM) to discretize the operator, accelerated by hierarchical numerical schemes and preconditioning; this pipeline allows us to solve eigenvalue and linear problems on large-scale meshes despite the density of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann discretization. We further demonstrate that our operators naturally fit into existing frameworks for geometry processing, making a shift from intrinsic to extrinsic geometry as simple as substituting the Laplace-Beltrami operator with the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator.

cs.GR↗
arXiv2017

The Steklov spectrum of cuboids

The paper is concerned with the Steklov eigenvalue problem on cuboids of arbitrary dimension. We prove a two-term asymptotic formula for the counting function of Steklov eigenvalues on cuboids in dimension d greater or equal to 3. Apart from the standard Weyl term, we calculate explicitly the second term in the asymptotics, capturing the contribution of the (d-2)-dimensional facets of a cuboid. Our approach is based on lattice counting techniques. While this strategy is similar to the one used for the Dirichlet Laplacian, the Steklov case carries additional complications. In particular, it is not clear how to establish directly the completeness of the system of Steklov eigenfunctions admitting separation of variables. We prove this result using a family of auxiliary Robin boundary value problems. Moreover, the correspondence between the Steklov eigenvalues and lattice points is not exact, and hence more delicate analysis is required to obtain spectral asymptotics. Some other related results are presented, such as an isoperimetric inequality for the first Steklov eigenvalue, a concentration property of high frequency Steklov eigenfunctions and applications to spectral determination of cuboids.

math.SP↗
arXiv2017

Nodal length of Steklov eigenfunctions on real-analytic Riemannian surfaces

We prove sharp upper and lower bounds for the nodal length of Steklov eigenfunctions on real-analytic Riemannian surfaces with boundary. The argument involves frequency function methods for harmonic functions in the interior of the surface as well as the construction of exponentially accurate approximations for the Steklov eigenfunctions near the boundary.

math.AP↗
arXiv2014

Spectral geometry of the Steklov problem

The Steklov problem is an eigenvalue problem with the spectral parameter in the boundary conditions, which has various applications. Its spectrum coincides with that of the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator. Over the past years, there has been a growing interest in the Steklov problem from the viewpoint of spectral geometry. While this problem shares some common properties with its more familiar Dirichlet and Neumann cousins, its eigenvalues and eigenfunctions have a number of distinctive geometric features, which makes the subject especially appealing. In this survey we discuss some recent advances and open questions, particularly in the study of spectral asymptotics, spectral invariants, eigenvalue estimates, and nodal geometry.

math.SP↗
arXiv2014

Smooth billiards with a large Weyl remainder

The celebrated Hardy-Landau lower bound for the error term in the Gauss's circle problem can be viewed as an estimate from below for the remainder in Weyl's law on a square, with either Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions. We prove an analogous estimate for smooth star-shaped planar domains admitting an appropriate one-parameter family of periodic billiard trajectories. Examples include ellipses and smooth domains of constant width. Our results confirm a prediction of P. Sarnak who proved a similar statement for surfaces without boundary. We also obtain lower bounds on the error term in higher dimensions. In this case, the main contribution to the Weyl remainder typically comes from the "big" singularity at zero of the wave trace. However, for certain domains, such as the Euclidean ball, the dimension of the family of periodic trajectories is large enough to dominate the contribution of the singularity at zero.

math.AP↗
arXiv2013

Multiplicity bounds for Steklov eigenvalues on Riemannian surfaces

We prove two explicit bounds for the multiplicities of Steklov eigenvalues $σ_k$ on compact surfaces with boundary. One of the bounds depends only on the genus of a surface and the index $k$ of an eigenvalue, while the other depends as well on the number of boundary components. We also show that on any given smooth Riemannian surface with boundary, the multiplicities of Steklov eigenvalues $σ_k$ are uniformly bounded in $k$.

math.DG↗
arXiv2013

The Steklov spectrum of surfaces: asymptotics and invariants

We obtain precise asymptotics for the Steklov eigenvalues on a compact Riemannian surface with boundary. It is shown that the number of connected components of the boundary, as well as their lengths, are invariants of the Steklov spectrum. The proofs are based on pseudodifferential techniques for the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator and on a number-theoretic argument.

math.SP↗
arXiv2013

Eigenvalues of a one-dimensional Dirac operator pencil

We study the spectrum of a one-dimensional Dirac operator pencil, with a coupling constant in front of the potential considered as the spectral parameter. Motivated by recent investigations of graphene waveguides, we focus on the values of the coupling constant for which the kernel of the Dirac operator contains a square integrable function. In physics literature such a function is called a confined zero mode. Several results on the asymptotic distribution of coupling constants giving rise to zero modes are obtained. In particular, we show that this distribution depends in a subtle way on the sign variation and the presence of gaps in the potential. Surprisingly, it also depends on the arithmetic properties of certain quantities determined by the potential. We further observe that variable sign potentials may produce complex eigenvalues of the operator pencil. Some examples and numerical calculations illustrating these phenomena are presented.

math.SP↗
arXiv2013

Heat invariants of the Steklov problem

We study the heat trace asymptotics associated with the Steklov eigenvalue problem on a Riemannian manifold with boundary. In particular, we describe the structure of the Steklov heat invariants and compute the first few of them explicitly in terms of the scalar and mean curvatures. This is done by applying the Seeley calculus to the Dirichlet-to-Neumann operator, whose spectrum coincides with the Steklov eigenvalues. As an application, it is proved that a three--dimensional ball is uniquely defined by its Steklov spectrum among all Euclidean domains with smooth connected boundary.

math.SP↗
arXiv2012

On a class of inverse electrostatic and elasticity problems

We study the inverse electrostatic and elasticity problems associated with Poisson and Navier equations. The uniqueness of solutions of these problems is proved for piecewise constant electric charge and internal stress distributions having a checkered structure: they are constant on rectangular blocks. Such distributions appear naturally in practical applications. We also discuss computational challenges arising in the numerical implementation of our method.

math.AP↗
arXiv2012

Upper bounds for Steklov eigenvalues on surfaces

We give explicit isoperimetric upper bounds for all Steklov eigenvalues of a compact orientable surface with boundary, in terms of the genus, the length of the boundary, and the number of boundary components. Our estimates generalize a recent result of Fraser-Schoen, as well as the classical inequalites obtained by Hersch-Payne-Schiffer, whose approach is used in the present paper.

math.SP↗
arXiv2008

Shape optimization for low Neumann and Steklov eigenvalues

We give an overview of results on shape optimization for low eigenvalues of the Laplacian on bounded planar domains with Neumann and Steklov boundary conditions. These results share a common feature: they are proved using methods of complex analysis. In particular, we present modernized proofs of the classical inequalities due to Szego and Weinstock for the first nonzero Neumann and Steklov eigenvalues. We also extend the inequality for the second nonzero Neumann eigenvalue, obtained recently by Nadirashvili and the authors, to non-homogeneous membranes with log-subharmonic densities. In the homogeneous case, we show that this inequality is strict, which implies that the maximum of the second nonzero Neumann eigenvalue is not attained in the class of simply-connected membranes of a given mass. The same is true for the second nonzero Steklov eigenvalue, as follows from our results on the Hersch-Payne-Schiffer inequalities.

math.SP↗