Eigenvalue bounds for elliptic operators

Lower bounds for the real parts of the points in the spectrum of elliptic equations are derived. These bounds, depending only on the diameter L of the domain G and on the maximum norm M of the coefficients a, b, are optimal. They are always positive and thus the spectrum is bounded away from the imaginary axis. This result is then used to prove an “anti-dynamo theorem” for magnetic fields with plane symmetry in the case of a compressible steady flow surrounded by a perfect conductor.