The heat equation with singular coefficients. I: Operators of the form \(- d^ 2/dx^ 2+k/x^ 2\) in dimension 1 (Q793907)

This is the first in a proposed series of papers dealing with the heat equation with coefficients containing singularities of the form \(k/x^ 2\). In the present paper differential operators of the form \(H_ k=-d^ 2/dx^ 2+k/x^ 2\), \(x\in {\mathbb{R}}\) with \(k\geq 3/4\) are discussed. The expressions \(H_ k\) are considered on \(L_ 2({\mathbb{R}})\) and \(L_ 2({\mathbb{R}}^+)\) and it is shown in particular that when \(k\geq 3/4\) then a self-adjoint operator can be defined uniquely on \(L_ 2({\mathbb{R}})\). The heat kernel function \(\exp \{-sH_ k\}\) is then defined as a function of x and y both off and on the diagonal \(x=y\) and its behaviour is discussed in these regions. An asymptotic expansion in the sense of distributions, is obtained for the heat kernel function. The results obtained are used to derive an index formula on \({\mathbb{R}}\).