Estimates from below for the spectral function and for the remainder in local Weyl's law (Q2458411)

The authors consider lower bounds for the remainder in Weyl's asymptotics for the Laplacian on compact Riemannian manifolds. Namely, let \(R_x(\lambda):= \sum_{\sqrt{\lambda_i}\leq\lambda} \phi_i(x)^2 - c \lambda^n\), where \(\{\phi_i\}\) is an orthonormal basis of eigenfunctions for the Laplacian, with eigenvalues \(\lambda_i\), and \(c\) the apppropriate constant in Weyl's asymptotics. Let \(R(\lambda)\) be the integral of \(R_x(\lambda)\) over the manifold. Their estimates depend on local heat invariants \(a_j(x)\), and the quantity \(\kappa_x\), which is the first index \(j\geq1\) for which \(a_j(x)\) does not vanish (or infinity if all vanish). From heat kernel arguments they obtain \(\limsup |R_x(\lambda)|/\lambda^{n-2\kappa_x}>0\) provided \(n>2\kappa_x\). On the other hand, by means of a parametrix for the wave kernel, they obtain \(\limsup |R_x(\lambda)|/\lambda^{(n-1)/2}>0\) provided \(n<4\kappa_x-1\). The wave parametrix arguments require the hypothesis that \(x\) is not conjugate to itself along a shortest geodesic loop. The dimension restriction can be removed if, instead of \(R\), the (kind of `renormalized') pure oscillatory part \(R^{osc}\) of \(R\) is studied. Finally, the estimates are strengthened for the case of surfaces with negative sectional curvature, namely the bound \(\lambda^{(n-1)/2}\) is improved to \(\lambda^{(n-1)/2} (\log\lambda)^\alpha\) for a certain explicit \(\alpha\) that depends on entropy quantities of the geodesic flow.