Some applications of heat flow to Laplace eigenfunctions

Bogdan Georgiev, Mayukh Mukherjee

Published 2021-09-02Version 1

We consider mass concentration properties of Laplace eigenfunctions $\varphi_\lambda$, that is, smooth functions satisfying the equation $-\Delta \varphi_\lambda = \lambda \varphi_\lambda$, on a smooth closed Riemannian manifold. Using a heat diffusion technique, we first discuss mass concentration/localization properties of eigenfunctions around their nodal sets. Second, we discuss the problem of avoided crossings and (non)existence of nodal domains which continue to be thin over relatively long distances. Further, using the above techniques, we discuss the decay of Laplace eigenfunctions on Euclidean domains which have a central "thick" part and "thin" elongated branches representing tunnels of sub-wavelength opening. Finally, in an Appendix, we record some new observations regarding sub-level sets of the eigenfunctions and interactions of different level sets.