Small eigenvalues of the Neumann realization of the semiclassical Witten Laplacian (Q2430127)

Let \(d_{f,h}:=e^{-f(x)/h}(hd)e^{f(x)/h}\) be the twisted exterior differential and let \(\Delta_{f,h}:=\delta_{f,h}d_{f,h}\) be the Witten Laplacian on functions where \(\delta_{f,h}\) is the formal adjoint of \(d_{f,h}\). The author examines the exponentially small eigenvalues of the Neumann realization on a connected compact Riemannian manifold with regular boundary; asymptotic formulas are derived for the smallest non-zero eigenvalues. The function \(f\) is assumed to be a Morse function with no critical points at the boundary; it is also assumed that the restriction of\(f\) to the boundary also is a Morse function. The set of local minima and the set of generalized critical points with index 1 or generalized saddle points of \(f\) play a crucial role. The article consists of several sections. The second section studies in detail the boundary complex adapted to keep the associated commutation relation. The third section is devoted to the proof of certain rough estimates to get a first localization of the spectrum. The fourth section gives the WKB construction for an eigenform of the Witten Laplacian on 1-forms localized near a critical point of the boundary. The fifth section deals with quasimodes adapted to the analysis. The main result is then established in the final section.