Counterexamples to Schiffer's Conjecture

Abstract

The Schiffer conjecture states that if a smooth domain $\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ admits a Neumann eigenfunction of the Laplacian which is constant at the boundary, then the domain is a ball. It is intimately related to Pompeiu's problem, stating that if a nonzero function integrates zero over any rigid motion of $\Omega$, then $\Omega$ is a ball. We disprove both conjectures in $\mathbb{R}^2$, constructing infinitely many planar domains $\Omega$ which are not balls and satisfy the conditions above. Our domains are $N$-fold symmetric, with $N$ sufficiently large. Our approach is based on a novel strategy of considering a relaxed problem where $N$ can be any real number (which corresponds to the Schiffer problem only when $N$ is a natural number). We then apply bifurcation theory to this relaxed problem, showing that the size of the local bifurcation branch can be taken independently of $N$. This result allows us to conclude that branches starting with $N$ sufficiently close to an integer reach integer values of $N$.