We develop a new approach to the study of spectral asymmetry. Working with the operator curl & ratio;= & lowast;d on a connected oriented closed Riemannian 3-manifold, we construct, by means of microlocal analysis, the asymmetry operator - a scalar pseudodifferential operator of order-3. The latter is completely determined by the Riemannian manifold and its orientation, and encodes information about spectral asymmetry. The asymmetry operator generalises and contains the classical eta invariant traditionally associated with the asymmetry of the spectrum, which can be recovered by computing its regularised operator trace. Remarkably, the whole construction is direct and explicit.

The notion of eta invariant is traditionally defined by means of analytic continuation. We prove, by examining the particular case of the operator curl, that the eta invariant can equivalently be obtained as the trace of the difference of positive and negative spectral projections, appropriately regularised. Our construction is direct, in the sense that it does not involve analytic continuation, and is based on the use of pseudodifferential techniques. This provides a novel approach to the study of spectral asymmetry of non-semibounded (pseudo)differential systems on manifolds which encompasses and extends previous results.

We establish the two-term spectral asymptotics for boundary value problems of linear elasticity on a smooth compact Riemannian manifold of arbitrary dimension. We also present some illustrative examples and give a historical overview of the subject. In particular, we correct erroneous results published by Liu (J Geom Anal 31:10164–10193, 2021).

Consider an elliptic self-adjoint pseudodifferential operator A acting on m-columns of half-densities on a closed manifold M, whose principal symbol is assumed to have simple eigenvalues. We show existence and uniqueness of m orthonormal pseudodifferential projections commuting with the operator A and provide an algorithm for the computation of their full symbols, as well as explicit closed formulae for their subprincipal symbols. Pseudodifferential projections yield a decomposition of L2(M) into invariant subspaces under the action of A modulo C∞(M). Furthermore, they allow us to decompose A into m distinct sign definite pseudodifferential operators. Finally, we represent the modulus and the Heaviside function of the operator A in terms of pseudodifferential projections and discuss physically meaningful examples.

We construct the propagator of the massless Dirac operator $W$ on a closed Riemannian 3-manifold as the sum of two invariantly defined oscillatory integrals, global in space and in time, with distinguished complex-valued phase functions. The two oscillatory integrals -- the positive and the negative propagators -- correspond to positive and negative eigenvalues of $W$, respectively. This enables us to provide a global invariant definition of the full symbols of the propagators (scalar matrix-functions on the cotangent bundle), a closed formula for the principal symbols and an algorithm for the explicit calculation of all their homogeneous components. Furthermore, we obtain small time expansions for principal and subprincipal symbols of the propagators in terms of geometric invariants. Lastly, we use our results to compute the third local Weyl coefficients in the asymptotic expansion of the eigenvalue counting functions of $W$.

Consider an elliptic self-adjoint pseudodifferential operator A acting on m-columns of half-densities on a closed manifold M , whose principal symbol is assumed to have simple eigenvalues. We show that the spectrum of A decomposes, up to an error with superpolynomial decay, into m distinct series, each associated with one of the eigenvalues of the principal symbol of A. These spectral results are then applied to the study of propagation of singularities in hyperbolic systems. The key technical ingredient is the use of the carefully devised pseudodifferential projections introduced in the first part of this work, which decompose L2(M) into almost-orthogonal almost-invariant subspaces under the action of both A and the hyperbolic evolution.

Given a matrix pseudodifferential operator on a smooth manifold, one may be interested in diagonalising it by choosing eigenvectors of its principal symbol in a smooth manner. We show that diagonalisation is not always possible, on the whole cotangent bundle or even in a single fibre. We identify global and local topological obstructions to diagonalisation and examine physically meaningful examples demonstrating that all possible scenarios can occur.

We study the propagator of the wave equation on a closed Riemannian manifold $M$. We propose a geometric approach to the construction of the propagator as a single oscillatory integral global both in space and in time with a distinguished complex-valued phase function. This enables us to provide a global invariant definition of the full symbol of the propagator - a scalar function on the cotangent bundle - and an algorithm for the explicit calculation of its homogeneous components. The central part of the paper is devoted to the detailed analysis of the subprincipal symbol; in particular, we derive its explicit small time asymptotic expansion. We present a general geometric construction that allows one to visualise topological obstructions and describe their circumvention with the use of a complex-valued phase function. We illustrate the general framework with explicit examples in dimension two.

A natural way to obtain a system of partial differential equations on a manifold is to vary a suitably defined sesquilinear form. The sesquilinear forms we study are Hermitian forms acting on sections of the trivial [Formula: see text]-bundle over a smooth [Formula: see text]-dimensional manifold without boundary. More specifically, we are concerned with first order sesquilinear forms, namely, those generating first order systems. Our goal is to classify such forms up to [Formula: see text] gauge equivalence. We achieve this classification in the special case of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] by means of geometric and topological invariants (e.g., Lorentzian metric, spin/spinc structure, electromagnetic covector potential) naturally contained within the sesquilinear form — a purely analytic object. Essential to our approach is the interplay of techniques from analysis, geometry, and topology.

A natural way to obtain a system of partial differential equations on a manifold is to vary a suitably defined sesquilinear form. The sesquilinear forms we study are Hermitian forms acting on sections of the trivial Cn-bundle over a smooth m-dimensional manifold without boundary. More specifically, we are concerned with first order sesquilinear forms, namely, those generating first order systems. Our goal is to classify such forms up to GL(n,C) gauge equivalence. We achieve this classification in the special case of m = 4 and n = 2 by means of geometric and topological invariants (e.g. Lorentzian metric, spin/spinc structure, electromagnetic covector potential) naturally contained within the sesquilinear form – a purely analytic object. Essential to our approach is the interplay of techniques from analysis, geometry, and topology.

For a scalar elliptic self-adjoint operator on a compact manifold without boundary we have two-term asymptotics for the number of eigenvalues between zero and lambda when lambda tends to infinity, under an additional dynamical condition. This is a well known result of J.J.Duistermaat and V.W.Guillemin from 1975. In the case of an elliptic system of first order, the existence of two-term asymptotics was also established quite early and as in the scalar case Fourier integral operators have been the crucial tool. The complete computation of the coefficient of the second term was obtained only in 2013. In the present paper we simplify that calculation. The main observation is that with the existence of two-term asymptotics already established, it suffices to study the resolvent as a pseudodifferential operator in order to identify and compute the second coefficient.

We work on a 4-manifold equipped with Lorentzian metric $g$ and consider a volume-preserving diffeomorphism which is the unknown quantity of our mathematical model. The diffeomorphism defines a second Lorentzian metric $h$, the pullback of $g$. Motivated by elasticity theory, we introduce a Lagrangian expressed algebraically (without differentiations) via our pair of metrics. Analysis of the resulting nonlinear field equations produces three main results. Firstly, we show that for Ricci-flat manifolds our linearised field equations are Maxwell's equations in the Lorenz gauge with exact current. Secondly, for Minkowski space we construct explicit massless solutions of our nonlinear field equations; these come in two distinct types, right-handed and left-handed. Thirdly, for Minkowski space we construct explicit massive solutions of our nonlinear field equations; these contain a positive parameter which has the geometric meaning of quantum mechanical mass and a real parameter which may be interpreted as electric charge. In constructing explicit solutions of nonlinear field equations we resort to group-theoretic ideas: we identify special 4-dimensional subgroups of the Poincare group and seek diffeomorphisms compatible with their action, in a suitable sense.

We work on a 4-manifold equipped with Lorentzian metric $g$ and consider a volume-preserving diffeomorphism which is the unknown quantity of our mathematical model. The diffeomorphism defines a second Lorentzian metric $h$, the pullback of $g$. Motivated by elasticity theory, we introduce a Lagrangian expressed algebraically (without differentiations) via our pair of metrics. Analysis of the resulting nonlinear field equations produces three main results. Firstly, we show that for Ricci-flat manifolds our linearised field equations are Maxwell's equations in the Lorenz gauge with exact current. Secondly, for Minkowski space we construct explicit massless solutions of our nonlinear field equations; these come in two distinct types, right-handed and left-handed. Thirdly, for Minkowski space we construct explicit massive solutions of our nonlinear field equations; these contain a positive parameter which has the geometric meaning of quantum mechanical mass and a real parameter which may be interpreted as electric charge. In constructing explicit solutions of nonlinear field equations we resort to group-theoretic ideas: we identify special 4-dimensional subgroups of the Poincare group and seek diffeomorphisms compatible with their action, in a suitable sense.

We study the (massless) Dirac operator on a 3-sphere equipped with Riemannian metric. For the standard metric the spectrum is known. In particular. the eigenvalues closest to zero are the two double eigenvalues +3/2 and -3/2. Our aim is to analyse the behaviour of eigenvalues when the metric is perturbed in an arbitrary smooth fashion from the standard one. We derive explicit perturbation formulae for the two eigenvalues closest to zero, taking account of the second variations. Note that these eigenvalues remain double eigenvalues under perturbations of the metric: they cannot split because of a particular symmetry of the Dirac operator in dimension three (it commutes with the antilinear operator of charge conjugation). Our perturbation formulae show that in the first approximation our two eigenvalues maintain symmetry about zero and are completely determined by the increment of Riemannian volume. Spectral asymmetry is observed only in the second approximation of the perturbation process. As an example we consider a special family of metrics, the so-called generalized Berger spheres, for which the eigenvalues can he evaluated explicitly.

We work with a pair of complex-valued scalar fields over a 4-manifold. [...]

We write the Dirac equation in curved 4-dimensional Lorentzian spacetime using concepts from the analysis of partial differential equations as opposed to geometric concepts.

We work on a parallelizable time-orientable Lorentzian 4-manifold and prove that in this case, the notion of spin structure can be equivalently defined in a purely analytic fashion. Our analytic definition relies on the use of the concept of a non-degenerate two-by-two formally self-adjoint first order linear differential operator and gauge transformations of such operators. We also give an analytic definition of spin structure for the 3-dimensional Riemannian case.

This is the editor's preface to the special issue of Journal of Spectral Theory, in memory of Yuri Safarov.

This is a review paper outlining recent progress in the spectral analysis of first order systems. We work on a closed manifold and study an elliptic self-adjoint first order system of linear partial differential equations. The aim is to examine the spectrum and derive asymptotic formulae for the two counting functions. Here the two counting functions are those for the positive and the negative eigenvalues. One has to deal with positive and negative eigenvalues separately because the spectrum is, generically, asymmetric.

We consider an elliptic self-adjoint first order differential operator L acting on pairs (2-columns) of complex-valued half-densities over a connected compact 3-dimensional manifold without boundary. The principal symbol of the operator L is assumed to be trace-free and the subprincipal symbol is assumed to be zero. Given a positive scalar weight function, we study the weighted eigenvalue problem for the operator L. The corresponding counting function (number of eigenvalues between zero and a positive lambda) is known to admit, under appropriate assumptions on periodic trajectories, a two-term asymptotic expansion as lambda tends to plus infinity and we have recently derived an explicit formula for the second asymptotic coefficient. The purpose of this paper is to establish the geometric meaning of the second asymptotic coefficient. To this end, we identify the geometric objects encoded within our eigenvalue problem - metric, nonvanishing spinor field and topological charge - and express our asymptotic coefficients in terms of these geometric objects. We prove that the second asymptotic coefficient of the counting function has the geometric meaning of the massless Dirac action.