The conjecture on Steklov functional maximizers for critical ellipses

Let D\mathbb{D} be the disk, let ht+h_t^+ denote the corresponding Steklov data for the critical ellipse, let Et={x2+ty2=1}E_t=\{x^2+t y^2=1\}, and let co(Et)={x2+ty21}co(E_t)=\{x^2+t y^2\leq 1\}. Equip co(Et)co(E_t) with the Euclidean metric ξ\xi and the boundary weight β(x,y)=(x2+ty2)1\beta(x,y)=(x^2+t y^2)^{-1}. Ellipse conjecture. For 1t31\leq t\leq 3,

IS(D,ht+)=t2π.I^S(\mathbb{D},h_t^+)=\frac{\sqrt{t}}{2\pi}.

Moreover, this value is uniquely attained by the critical ellipse co(Et)co(E_t) with the specified metric and boundary weight. This would improve the description of IS(D,ht+)I^S(\mathbb{D},h_t^+) and its minimizers; the source presents it as an open conjecture related to the existence of non-planar free boundary minimal disks in ellipsoids.

Sources & referencesView supporting material

Primary source

Romain Petrides, “Isoperimetric inequalities involving Steklov eigenvalues on surfaces”, arXiv:2508.10721 (2025).

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