An evolution equation approach to the Klein-Gordon operator on curved spacetime (Q2002223)

The authors develop a theory for the Klein-Gordon equation on curved spacetimes. Precisely, they consider the Klein-Gordon operator on a Lorentzian manifold coupled to an electromagnetic potential \(A\) and a scalar potential \(Y\): \[K = |g|^{-1/2} (D_{\mu} - A_{\mu} )|g|^{1/2} g^{\mu \nu} (D_{\nu} -A_{\nu}) +Y\] where \(|g|= |\det[ g_{\mu \nu}]|\) and \(D_{\mu}= -i \partial_{\mu}\). Both classical propagators and some families of nonclassical propagators are constructed. The theory of nonautonomous evolution equations on Hilbert spaces is used to this end. Assumptions on the metric and potentials are weak, but global in spacetime. In an Appendix, the authors illustrate how some of the assumptions can be realized.