Minimal Steklov eigenvalues on combinatorial graphs

Abstract: In this paper, we study extremal problems of Steklov eigenvalues on combinatorial graphs by extending Friedman's theory [Duke Math. J. 69 (1993), no. 3, 487--525] of nodal domains for Laplacian eigenfunctions to Steklov eigenfunctions, and solve an extremal problem for Steklov eigenvalues on combinatorial graphs that is an analogue of the extremal problem solved by Friedman [Duke Math. J. 83 (1996), no. 1, 1--18.] for Laplacian eigenvalues. More precisely, we mainly show that the minimum of the $i^{\rm th}$ Steklov eigenvalue on a connected combinatorial graph with $n$ vertices is essentially attained by a star with each arm a minimal broom when $i\not|n$, and attained by a regular comb with each tooth a minimal broom when $i|n$.