Laplacians on smooth distributions as \(C^*\)-algebra multipliers (Q2214381)

Let \(M\) be a closed manifold and \(H\) a distribution on \(M\). The horizontal differential \(d_H f \in C^\infty(M,H^*)\) of a smooth funtion \(f\) on \(M\) is defined as the restriction of the differential \(df\) to \(H\). A positive smooth density \(\mu\) on \(M\) and a fiberwise inner product on \(H\) allow one to define the adjoint operator \(d_H^*\) and hence the Laplacian \(\Delta_H\) which is a second-order differential operator on \(M\). In [\textit{Y. A. Kordyukov}, Sb. Math. 208, No. 10, 1503--1522 (2017; Zbl 1384.58023); translation from Mat. Sb. 208, No. 10, 91--112 (2017)], the author proved that \(\Delta_H\) is essentially self-adjoint in \(L^2(M,\mu)\), provided a subelliptic estimate for it and proved longitudinal hypoellipticity. Let \(\mathcal{F}_H\) be the singular foliation on \(M\) defined by \(H\). If \(\mathcal{F}_H\) is regular, the author proves in the present paper that there exists a second-order differential operator \(\Delta\) on the holonomy groupoid \(G\) of the foliation \(\mathcal{F}_H\), whose image under the natural representation of \(C^*(M,\mathcal{F}_H)\) on \(L^2(M,\mu)\) coincides with \(\Delta_H\). Further, it is shown that the spectrum \(\sigma(\Delta_H)\) contains its leafwise spectrum \(\sigma_{\mathcal{F}}(\Delta_H)\), and that if the holonomy groupoid is amenable then these spectra coincide.