Global bounds of Schrödinger heat kernels with negative potentials (Q5939930)

Consider the Schrödinger operator \(L=-\Delta +V\), where \(-\Delta\) is the Laplace operator on functions on a complete, noncompact Riemannian manifold \(M\) of dimension at least three with nonnegative Ricci curvature, and \(V\) is a potential function. Many researchers have worked on estimating the heat kernel corresponding to \(L\). It is most difficult to find satisfactory bounds for all values of time, in particular when the potential function is negative. In this paper, the author considers the case \(V(x)\sim -C/d(x)^{b}\) near infinity, where \(C>0\), \(b\geq 0\), and \(d(x)\) is the distance from \(x\in M\) to a fixed point in \(M\). Some of the estimates obtained are as follows. If \(L\) is a positive operator and \(b=2\), then the heat kernel \(G=G(x,y;t,0)\) is bounded from above by a standard Gaussian times a polynomial function of \(x,y,t\). If \(L\) has a negative eigenvalue, then \(G\) (for fixed \(y\)) is bounded from below by a Gaussian times \(e^{ct}\) with \(c>0\). Estimates for \(b\neq 2\) are obtained as well, although they are more difficult to state. The upper bounds need no additional assumptions, but the lower bounds require a global geometric assumption on \(M\).