A note on the first Steklov eigenvalue on planar domains

Abstract: We consider the first positive Steklov eigenvalue on planar domains. First, we provide an example of a planar domain for which a first eigenfunction has a closed nodal line. Second, we establish a lower bound for the first positive eigenvalue on certain symmetric domains and show that this eigenvalue is simple for all ellipses. These results complement two statements contained in a work by Kuttler and Sigillito (Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 20, 1969).