Asymptotic heat kernel expansion in the semi-classical limit (Q625473)

Let \(L\) be a self-adjoint Laplace type operator acting on sections of a vector bundle over a compact Riemannian manifold and \(V\) be a symmetric endomorphism field. The authors derive an asymptotic expansion for the heat kernel of \({H_\hbar = \hbar^{2}L +V}\) as \({\hbar \searrow 0}\). Further, an asymptotic expansion for the quantum partition function is obtained which turns out to be asymptotic to the classical partition function. Moreover, the authors show how to estimate the quantum partition function for positive \({\hbar}\) in terms of the classical partition function.