Unrestricted lower bounds for eigenvalues for classes of elliptic equations and systems of equations with applications to problems in elasticity

Lower bounds for the eigenvalues of some elliptic equations and elliptic systems over bounded regions are obtained. The bounds are universal in that they depend only upon the volume of the region. Specific applications include the clamped plate, the buckling problem for the clamped plate and the equations of linear elasticity. Our results are consequences of extensions of the methods of Li and Yau (Comm. Mat. Phys. 88 (1983) 309–318) who obtained such results for the eigenvalues of the fixed membrane problem.