Spectral Functions in Mathematics and Physics

Over the last several years, the author and his colleagues have developed new methods for the exact analysis, including numerical evaluations, of different spectral functions that have significant applications in physics. This book provides a comprehensive description of these techniques and of their various applications. The approach allows for an exact treatment of zeta functions associated with the spectrum of a certain class of second order elliptic differential operators. Although much of the book is devoted to spectral analysis and spectral geometry, it also demonstrates some of the many ramifications spectral analysis and geometry has in physics, particularly to heat asymptotics, quantum field theory, statistical mechanics, the theory of partitions, and Bose-Einstein condensation.

The literature on the spectral analysis of second order elliptic differential operators contains a great deal of information on the spectral functions for explicitly known spectra. The same is not true, however, for situations where the spectra are not explicitly known. Over the last several years, the author and his colleagues have developed new, innovative methods for the exact analysis of a variety of spectral functions occurring in spectral geometry and under external conditions in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Spectral Functions in Mathematics and Physics presents a detailed overview of these advances. The author develops and applies methods for analyzing determinants arising when the external conditions originate from the Casimir effect, dielectric media, scalar backgrounds, and magnetic backgrounds. The zeta function underlies all of these techniques, and the book begins by deriving its basic properties and relations to the spectral functions. The author then uses those relations to develop and apply methods for calculating heat kernel coefficients, functional determinants, and Casimir energies. He also explores applications in the non-relativistic context, in particular applying the techniques to the Bose-Einstein condensation of an ideal Bose gas.Self-contained and clearly written, Spectral Functions in Mathematics and Physics offers a unique opportunity to acquire valuable new techniques, use them in a variety of applications, and be inspired to make further advances.

Introduction. A First Look at Zeta Functions and Heat Traces. Zeta Functions on Generalized Cones and Related Manifolds. Calculation of Heat Kernel Coeffcients via Special Cases. Heat Content Asymptotics. Functional Determinants. Casimir Energies. Ground State Energies under the Influence of External Fields. Bose-Einstein Condensation of Ideal Bose Gases under External Conditions. Conclusions. Appendices. References. Index.

Klaus Kirsten is a post-doctoral associate at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.