The Lichnerowicz theorem on CR manifolds (Q2472519)

Let \(M\) be a CR manifold of the hypersurface type, with CR dimension \(n\). Assume that \(M\) is strictly pseudoconvex and consider the Tanaka-Webster connection associated to a choice of the contact form \(\theta\) on \(M\) and the corresponding sub-laplacian \(\Delta_b\). The author proves in this CR context an analogous of the Bochner formula in Riemannian geometry, namely: \[ \frac{1}{2}\Delta_b(| \nabla^Hf| ^2)= | \pi_H\nabla^2f| ^2+(\nabla^Hf)(\Delta_bf)+\rho(\nabla^Hf,\nabla^Hf) +2Lf, \] where \(\rho\) is the pseudo-Hermitian Ricci curvature and \(L\) the differential operator given by \(Lf=(J\nabla^Hf)(Tf)-(J\nabla_T\nabla^Hf)(f)\) (here \(T\) is the characteristic direction of \(\theta\)). Using this formula, an estimate is obtained for the first eigenvalue of the sub-Laplacian operator, under suitable assumptions on the pseudo-Hermitian Ricci curvature of \((M,\theta)\).