On transversally elliptic operators and the quantization of manifolds with \(f\)-structure (Q1943593)

Recall that an \(f\)-structure on a manifod \(M\) is an endomorphism field \(\varphi \) with \(\varphi ^3+\varphi =0\). Since the restriction of \(\varphi \) to \(\operatorname{Im} \varphi \) squares to \(-Id\) it follows that an \(f\)-structure is equivalent to an almost CR structure together with a choice of complement to the Levi distribution. In a previous paper of the author [Int. Math. Res. Not. 2009, No. 18, 3366--3390 (2009; Zbl 1196.58008)] almost CR structures are used to produce new examples of transversally elliptic symbols in the sense of Atiyah. Following this approach the present work gives a construction of a first order differential operator whose principal symbol is of the previous type. The final section describes two ways of obtaining a ``quantum object'' associated to a given \(f\)-structure. In the particular case where \(\varphi\) is an almost complex structure, the geometric quantization of symplectic manifolds is re-obtained.