On the essential spectrum of the Laplacian and the drifted Laplacian (Q2444481)

Let \((M,g)\) be a complete non-compact manifold. If \(f\in C^\infty(M)\), one may consider the weighted volume form \(e^{-f}\text{dvol}_g\) and define the \textit{drifted Laplacian} \(\Delta_f\) by setting \[ \Delta_fu:=\Delta_gu-(\nabla f,\nabla u)\,. \] This is a self-adjoint elliptic second order partial differential operator on the space \(L^2_f(M)\) where the measure in question is \(e^{-f}\text{dvol}_g\). The Bakry--Émery Ricci curvature is defined by adjusting the Ricci tensor appropriately by setting \(\text{Ric}_f:=\text{Ric}+\text{Hess}_f\). Let \(p\) be a point of \(M\) and let \(B_r(p)\) be the ball of radius \(r\) about \(p\). The author studies the \(L^2\) spectrum of \(-\Delta\) and the \(L^2_f\) spectrum of \(-\Delta_f\). \medbreak\noindent{ Theorem 1}. If \(\text{Ric}_f\geq0\) and if \(\lim_{r\rightarrow\infty}r^{-1}|f|=0\), then the \(L^2_f(M)\) essential spectrum of \(-\Delta_f\) is \([0,\infty)\). \medbreak\noindent{ Theorem 2}. If \(\text{Ric}\geq0\) and if \(\lim_{r\rightarrow\infty}r^{-1}|f|=0\), then \(\lim_{r\rightarrow\infty}\text{vol}_f(B_r(p))e^{-Cr}=0\) for all \(C>0\). \medbreak\noindent{ Theorem 3}. If \(\text{Ric}_f\geq0\), if \(\lim_{r\rightarrow\infty}r^{-1}|f|=0\), and if \(\text{vol}_f(M)<\infty\), then the \(f\)-volume of \(M\) does not decay exponentially at \(p\). \medbreak\noindent{ Theorem 4}. If \(\text{Ric}_f\geq\frac12g\) and if \(|\nabla f|\leq f\), then the \(L^2(M)\) essential spectrum of \(-\Delta\) is \([0,\infty)\).