A commutator method for computation of heat invariants (Q5935892)

Let \((M,g)\) be a compact Riemannian manifold without boundary of dimension \(m\) and let \(D\) be an operator of Laplace type. The fundamental solution of the heat equation \(e^{-tD}\) is of trace class and as \(t\downarrow 0\) there is a full asymptotic series \(Tr_{L^2}(fe^{-tD})\sim\sum_{n\geq 0}t^{(n-m)/2}a_n(f,D)\) where the localized heat trace coefficients \(a_n(f,D)=\int_Mf(x)a_n(x)dx\) are locally computable invariants. The author studies these invariants if \(m=2\) and if \(D\) is the scalar Laplacian. Introduce isothermal coordinates centered at \(x\in M\) so \(ds^2=\rho(du^2+dv^2)\). The author gives a very explicit closed formula for these invariants showing: \[ a_n(x)=\sum_{n+1\leq m\leq 4n,n+1\leq k\leq m,0\leq s\leq k-n}C_{nksm}\rho^{k-n} \Delta^k(u^{2k-2n-2s}v^{2s})|_{u=v=0} \] where \[ C_{nksm}={(-1)^n\over 4\pi^2}\sum_{0\leq\ell\leq m-k} {\Gamma(k+\ell-n-s+{1\over 2})\Gamma(s+m+k-\ell+{1\over 2})\over k!\ell!(m-k-\ell)!(2k-2n-2s)!(2s)!}. \]