Minimization problems for inhomogeneous Rayleigh quotients

Abstract

In this paper, the minimization problem [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is studied when [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]) is an open, bounded, convex domain with smooth boundary and [Formula: see text]. We show that [Formula: see text] is either zero, when the maximum of the distance function to the boundary of [Formula: see text] is greater than [Formula: see text], or it is a positive real number, when the maximum of the distance function to the boundary of [Formula: see text] belongs to the interval [Formula: see text]. In the latter case, we provide estimates for [Formula: see text] and show that for [Formula: see text] sufficiently large [Formula: see text] coincides with the principal frequency of the [Formula: see text]-Laplacian in [Formula: see text]. Some particular cases and related problems are also discussed.