Hypoellipticity of a second order operator with a principal symbol changing sign across a smooth hypersurface (Q861753)

The author considers econd-order operators of the form (after possibly a change of variables): \[ P= x_na(x)\sum^m_{j=1} X^2_j+ \partial_{x_n}+ c(x),\quad x= (x_1,\dots, x_n), \] where \(X_j\) are \(C^\infty\) real-valued vector fields, and \(a(x)\), \(c(x)\) are \(C^\infty\) functions. The hypoellipticity of \(P\) is proved under the assumptions: (1) \(\partial_{x_n}\) and \(x_n a(x)X_j\), \(j= 1,\dots, m\), satisfy the sum-of-squares condition of Hörmander; (2) \(a(x)\geq 0\); (3) \(X_j(x_n a(x))= 0\) for all \(x\) such that \(x_na(x)= 0\), \(j= 1,\dots, m\). Under the stronger condition \(a(x)> 0\), the hypoellipticity of \(P\) was proved by \textit{E. I. Ganzha} [Russ. Math. Surv. 41, No. 4, 175--176 (1986; Zbl 0637.35024); translation from Usp. Mat. Nauk. 41, No. 4(250), 215--216 (1986)].