The weak Pleijel theorem with geometric control

Abstract

Let $Ω\subset \mathbb R^d\,, d\geq 2$, be a bounded open set, and denote by $λ\_j(Ω), j\geq 1$, the eigenvalues of the Dirichlet Laplacian arranged in nondecreasing order, with multiplicities. The weak form of Pleijel's theorem states that the number of eigenvalues $λ\_j(Ω)$, for which there exists an associated eigenfunction with precisely $j$ nodal domains (Courant-sharp eigenvalues), is finite. The purpose of this note is to determine an upper bound for Courant-sharp eigenvalues, expressed in terms of simple geometric invariants of $Ω$. We will see that this is connected with one of the favorite problems considered by Y. Safarov.