The spectrum of one parameter family of operators on the 2-forms on a compact Riemannian manifold (Q1824875)

Let M be a compact Riemannian manifold without boundary of dimension m. Let \(\Delta_ 2=\delta d+d\delta\) be the Laplacian on the space of smooth 2 forms. Let \({\tilde \Delta}=-g^{ij}\nabla_ i\nabla_ js\) be the reduced or Bochner Laplacian. Let \(\Delta (\epsilon)=\epsilon \cdot \Delta_ 2+(1-\epsilon)\cdot {\tilde \Delta}.\) The authors study the relationship between the spectrum of \(\Delta\) (\(\epsilon)\) as \(\epsilon\) varies and the geometry of the underlying manifold. They show the Euler- Poincaré characteristic of M is determined by spec(\(\Delta\) (\(\epsilon)\)) if \(m=4\). They show spheres, real, and complex projective spaces are determined by spec(\(\Delta\) (\(\epsilon)\)). These results follow by expressing the asymptotics of the heat equation in terms of the Weyl conformal tensor.