On a shape optimisation problem for Maxwell's eigenvalues on cuboids

We consider an optimisation problem for the elementary symmetric functions of the first three Maxwell's eigenvalues on cuboids under volume and perimeter constraint, and we show that the cube is a local minimiser.

More precisely, it is the unique minimiser in an explicit cone of cuboids.

The result gives a model case for the local optimisation of Maxwell's eigenvalues.

On the other hand we show that such local extremality phenomena cannot be expected outside rigid geometric classes.