Isoparametric theory and its applications

Abstract: This is a survey on the recent progress in several applications of isoparametric theory, including an affirmative answer to Yau's conjecture on the first eigenvalue of Laplacian in the isoparametric case, a negative answer to Yau's 76th problem in his Problem Section, new examples of Willmore submanifolds in spheres, a series of examples to Besse's problem on the generalization of Einstein condition, isoparametric functions on exotic spheres, counterexamples to two conjectures of Leung, as well as surgery theory on isoparametric foliation.