Characterization of critical points of second Neumann eigenfunctions on triangles

Let TT be a Euclidean triangle, and let a second Neumann eigenfunction of TT mean a Neumann Laplacian eigenfunction corresponding to the second eigenvalue. A triangle is acute if all its angles are less than π/2\pi/2, and it is isosceles with apex angle greater than π/3\pi/3 if two of its sides are equal and the angle between them exceeds π/3\pi/3.

Critical-point conjecture. If TT is not an equilateral triangle, then a second Neumann eigenfunction of TT has a critical point if and only if TT is an acute triangle that is not isosceles with apex angle greater than π/3\pi/3.

The preceding results establish the claim for several classes of triangles, including acute, obtuse, right, and isosceles triangles, but the full characterization remains open.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Chris Judge and Sugata Mondal, “Euclidean Triangles Have No Hot Spots”, arXiv:1802.01800 (2021).

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