Wave front set at infinity and hyperbolic linear operators with multiple characteristics (Q1415849)

Pseudodifferential operators \(P= p(x,D)\) of SG-type are defined by symbols \(p(x,\xi)\) satisfying the estimates \[ | D^\alpha_x D^\beta_\xi p(x,\xi)|\leq c_{\alpha\beta}\langle\xi\rangle^{m_1- |\beta|}\langle x\rangle^{m_2- |\alpha|}, \] see for example \textit{H. O. Cordes} [The technique of pseudodifferential operators, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge (1995; Zbl 0828.35145)]. They may admit a principal homogeneous symbol, given by the triplet \(\sigma_\psi(p)\), \(\sigma_e(p)\), \(\sigma_{\psi e}(p)\), homogeneous, respectively, in \(\xi\) only, in \(x\) only, in both \(x\) and \(\xi\) separately. In this paper the authors introduce a notion of SG-wave front set, corresponding to SG-operators. For a distribution \(u\in S'(\mathbb{R}^n)\) it consists of a triplet \(WF_\psi u\), \(WF_e u\), \(WF_{\psi e}u\), the first component being the well-known Hörmander's wave front set. Results are given concerning the action on the SG-wave front set of SG-pseudodifferential operators and also Fourier integral SG-operators, as introduced by \textit{S. Coriasco} and \textit{P. Panarese} [Math. Nachr. 242, 61--78 (2002; Zbl 1044.35115)]. A very interesting application is presented, concerning propagation of the wave front set at infinity for hyperbolic Cauchy problems with multiple characteristics. At the end of the paper, the authors show equivalence with the scattering wave front set defined by \textit{R. Melrose} [Geometric scattering theory. Stanford Lectures, Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge (1995; Zbl 0849.58071)]. Their precise comparison can be very useful for the specialists, throwing new light on the previous results of R. Melrose and others.