On odd Laplace operators (Q1868418)

The authors consider odd Laplace operators acting on densities of various weights on an odd Poisson (= Schouten) manifold M. They prove that the case of densities of weight 1/2 (half-densities) is distinguished by the existence of a unique odd Laplace operator depending only on a point of an 'orbit space' of volume forms. The space of volume forms on M is partitioned into orbits by the action of a natural groupoid whose arrows correspond to the solutions of the quantum Batalin-Vilkovisky equations. They compare their situation with that of Riemannian and even Poisson manifolds and show that the square of an odd Laplace operator is a Poisson vector field defining an analog of Weinstein's 'modular class'.