Point-separation conjecture for first Steklov eigenfunction maps

Let N2BnN^2\subset\mathbb{B}^n be a free boundary branched minimal immersion by first Steklov eigenfunctions, with N\partial N having at least two components. Steklov point-separation conjecture. There exists a pair of points p,qp,q in distinct components of N\partial N such that every map

F:(N,N)(Bn,Sn1)F:(N,\partial N)\to(\mathbb{B}^n,\mathbb{S}^{n-1})

by first Steklov eigenfunctions satisfies F(p)F(q)F(p)\neq F(q). This is proposed as one of the remaining ingredients for the existence theory of σˉ1\bar{\sigma}_1-maximizing metrics; the source gives no resolution.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Mikhail Karpukhin, Robert Kusner, Peter McGrath and Daniel Stern, “Embedded minimal surfaces in S^3 and B^3 via equivariant eigenvalue optimization”, arXiv:2402.13121 (2024).

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