$2$-nodal domain theorems for higher dimensional circle bundles

Abstract

We prove that the real parts of equivariant (but non-invariant) eigenfunctions of generic bundle metrics on nontrivial principal $S^1$ bundles over manifolds of any dimension have connected nodal sets and exactly 2 nodal domains. This generalizes earlier results of the authors in the $3$-dimensional case. The failure of the results on for non-free $S^1$ actions is illustrated on even dimensional spheres by one-parameter subgroups of rotations whose fixed point set consists of two antipodal points.