The C^r dependence problem of eigenvalues of the Laplace operator on domains in the plane

Abstract

The C^r dependence problem of multiple Dirichlet eigenvalues on domains is discussed for elliptic operators by regarding smooth one-parameter families of C^1 perturbations of domains in R^n. As applications of our main theorem (Theorem 1), we provide a fairly complete description for all eigenvalues of the Laplace operator on disks and squares and also for its second eigenvalue on balls in R^n for any n >= 3. The central tool used in our proof is a degenerate implicit function theorem on Banach spaces of independent interest.