Dirichlet forms and pseudo differential operators (Q1119837)

The author recalls that with any translation invariant Dirichlet form \(E_ a\) one can associate a pseudodifferential operator a(D) whose symbol is a continuous non-negative definite function, and points out that a weak Dirichlet problem can be posed and solved for the operator a(D) by using Hilbert space methods. One can also solve the Dirichlet problem for a large class of pseudodifferential operators L(x,D) with variable coefficients, if these operators are reasonable perturbations of the operator a(D). The operators a(D) also play a role in the theory of Hunt processes. This expository paper recalls Hilbert space methods in the theory of elliptic differential operators discusses the relation between Dirichlet forms and continuous negative definite functions, examines anisotropic Sobolev spaces, and pseudodifferential operators in Dirichlet spaces, gives estimates for the solution of the weak Dirichlet problem, and finally discusses Markov processes and related questions. Most proofs are omitted but plenty of references are given.