First order fundamental differential operators on exterior and symmetric forms (Q1397581)

Let \(M\) be a manifold equipped with an affine torsion-free connection \(\nabla\). A first-order differential operator \(D\) on a vector bundle \(E\) (whether \(E= C^\infty\wedge^pM\) or \(E= C^\infty S^p M\)) is called a fundamental one if the symbol \(\sigma(D)\) is equivariant with respect to the natural action of the linear group \(\text{GL}(m)\) on TM, \(n= \dim M\). For the case \(E= C^\infty\wedge^pM\) of differential \(p\)-forms (\(E= C^\infty S^pM\) of symmetric forms) exactly two fundamental operators \(D_1={1\over p+1} d\), \(D_2= \nabla- {1\over p+1} d\) (\(D_3= {1\over p+1}\delta^*\), \(D_4= \nabla- {1\over p+1}\delta^*\), respectively) exist. The authors state some results concerning the kernels of the operators \(D_i\). For instance, let \(\text{Ker\,}D_2\) be the space of Killing differential forms and if \(M\) is a flat space, then \[ \dim\text{Ker\,}D_2= (m+1)!/(p+ 1)!(m- p)!, \] analogously \[ \dim\text{Ker\,}D_4= p(p+ 1)^2(p+ 2)^2\cdots(p+ m-1)^2/p!(p+ 1)! \] for flat \(M\).