Extremal problems for Steklov eigenvalues on annuli

Abstract

We obtain supremum of the $k$-th normalized Steklov eigenvalues of all rotationally symmetric conformal metrics on $[0,T]\times \mathbb {S}^1$, $k>1$. This generalizes the corresponding result of Fraser and Schoen for the case $k=1$. We give geometric description in terms of minimal surfaces for metrics attaining the supremum. We obtain some results on the comparison of the normalized Steklov eigenvalues of rotationally symmetric metrics and general conformal metrics on $[0,T]\times \mathbb {S}^1$. We also construct an example of a conformal metric on $[0,T]\times \mathbb {S}^1$ whose first normalized Steklov eigenvalue is larger than that of the corresponding rotationally symmetric conformal metric.