Exponential localization of Steklov eigenfunctions on warped product manifolds: the flea on the elephant phenomenon

Abstract: This paper is devoted to the analysis of Steklov eigenvalues and Steklov eigenfunctions on a class of warped product Riemannian manifolds $(M,g)$ whose boundary $\partial M$ consists in two distinct connected components $\Gamma_0$ and $\Gamma_1$. First, we show that the Steklov eigenvalues can be divided into two families $(\lambda_m^\pm)_{m \geq 0}$ which satisfy accurate asymptotics as $m \to \infty$. Second, we consider the associated Steklov eigenfunctions which are the harmonic extensions of the boundary Dirichlet to Neumann eigenfunctions. In the case of symmetric warped product, we prove that the Steklov eigenfunctions are exponentially localized on the whole boundary $\partial M$ as $m \to \infty$. Whenever we add an asymmetric perturbation to a symmetric warped product, we observe a flea on the elephant effect. Roughly speaking, we prove that "half" the Steklov eigenfunctions are exponentially localized on one connected component of the boundary, say $\Gamma_0$, and the other half on the other connected component $\Gamma_1$ as $m \to \infty$.