The wave trace of the basic Laplacian of a Riemannian foliation near a non-zero period (Q2392964)

Let \(M\) be an \(n\)-dimensional compact Riemannian manifold, without boundary, admitting a Riemannian foliation \({\mathcal F}\) of dimension \(p\). Consider the class of basic functions, i.e., the functions on \(M\) which are constant along the closures of the leaves. The ordinary Laplacian \(\Delta\) with respect to an arbitrary bundle-like metric \(g\) does not, as a general rule, preserve the space of basic functions. However, one can define an associated operator on the space of basic functions, called the basic Laplacian \(\Delta_B\), by \(\Delta_B=\delta_Bd_B+d_B\delta_B\), where \(d_B\) is the exterior derivative restricted to basic functions (or forms) and \(\delta_B\) is its adjoint. The mean curvature 1-form \(k\) is given by \[ k(Z)=\sum_{i=1}^pg(\nabla_{E_i}E_i,Z), \] where \(Z\in C^\infty (N{\mathcal F})\) and \(E_1,\dots ,E_p\) is an orthonormal basis of \(T{\mathcal F}\). If \(k\) is a basic function, then the spectrum of \(\Delta_B\) is contained in the spectrum of the ordinary Laplacian \(\Delta\) [\textit{E. Park} and \textit{K. Richardson}; Am. J. Math. 118, No. 6, 1249--1275 (1996; Zbl 0865.58047)]. The purpose of the paper under review is to compute invariants of the basic spectrum in terms of the global structure of the foliation. This is an extension of a previous article of the present author [J. Funct. Anal. 243, No. 1, 1--27 (2007; Zbl 1122.58017)], wherein a partial wave trace for the lengths of relatively closed bicharacteristic curves that are contained in the region of the manifold where the dimension of the leaf closures is maximal is presented. In the present paper, this restriction is eliminated and a wave trace for all non-zero lengths of relatively closed bicharacteristics is established, using the behaviour of the transverse Hamiltonian flow associated to a bundle-like metric. As an important application, the partial wave trace for the \(G\)-invariant Laplacian stated in another paper of the author [Commun. Partial Differ. Equations 33, No. 10, 1818--1846 (2008; Zbl 1158.58016)] is extended. This new result is made possible by desingularizing the orbit space of the \(G\)-action by translating the problem to an isospectral singular space given by a Riemannian foliation.