On the bottom of spectra under coverings

Abstract

For a Riemannian covering $M_1\to M_0$ of complete Riemannian manifolds with boundary (possibly empty) and respective fundamental groups $\Gamma_1\subseteq\Gamma_0$, we show that the bottoms of the spectra of $M_0$ and $M_1$ coincide if the right action of $\Gamma_0$ on $\Gamma_1\backslash\Gamma_0$ is amenable.