Laplacian eigenvalues functionals and metric deformations on compact manifolds

In this paper, we investigate critical points of the Laplacian's eigenvalues considered as functionals on the space of Riemmannian metrics or a conformal class of metrics on a compact manifold. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for a metric to be a critical point of such a functional. We derive specific consequences concerning possible locally maximizing metrics. We also characterize critical metrics of the ratio of two consecutive eigenvalues

From singularities to graphs

In this paper I analyze the problems which led to the introduction of graphs as tools for studying surface singularities. I explain how such graphs were initially only described using words, but that several questions made it necessary to draw them, leading to the elaboration of a special calculus with graphs. This is a non-technical paper intended to be readable both by mathematicians and philosophers or historians of mathematics.Comment: 23 pages, 27 figures. Expanded version of the talk given at the conference "Quand la forme devient substance : puissance des gestes, intuition diagrammatique et ph\'enom\'enologie de l'espace", which took place at Lyc\'ee Henri IV in Paris from 25 to 27 January 201

Optical design of two-reflector systems, the Monge-Kantorovich mass transfer problem and Fermat's principle

It is shown that the problem of designing a two-reflector system transforming a plane wave front with given intensity into an output plane front with prescribed output intensity can be formulated and solved as the Monge-Kantorovich mass transfer problem.Comment: 25 pages, 2 figure