Determinants of Laplacians on surfaces of finite volume (Q1112861)

Let \(\Gamma <PSL_ 2({\mathbb{R}})\) be a cofinite subgroup and consider the eigenvalue problem of the hyperbolic Laplacian \(\Delta\) on the space \(L^ 2(\Gamma \setminus H,\chi)\) of functions on the upper half-plane H which are \(\Gamma\)-automorphic with respect to the unitary character \(\chi\) on \(\Gamma\) and square integrable over \(\Gamma\) \(\setminus H\). The main theorem of the paper under review expresses the square of det(\(\Delta\)-s(1-s)) in terms of the Selberg zeta function for \(\Gamma\), \(\chi\) and in terms of various data which are relevant for the eigenvalue problem of \(\Delta\) on \(L^ 2(\Gamma \setminus H,\chi).\) The proof makes essential use of a Dirichlet series \(\zeta\) (w,s) which represents in a certain sense the discrete as well as the continuous spectrum of \(\Delta\), and of the Selberg trace formula. This paper extends previous work of \textit{P. Sarnak} [Commun. Math. Phys. 110, 113- 120 (1987; Zbl 0618.10023)] to the non-cocompact, but cofinite case. - In connection with the article under review the work of \textit{J. Fischer} [Lect. Notes Math. 1253 (1987; Zbl 0618.10029)] is also of interest.