Geometric Aspects of Partial Differential Equations

This collection of papers by leading researchers gives a broad picture of current research directions in geometric aspects of partial differential equations. Based on lectures presented at a Minisymposium on Spectral Invariants - Heat Equation Approach, held in September 1998 at Roskilde University in Denmark, the book provides both a careful exposition of new perspectives in classical index theory and an introduction to currently active areas of the field. Presented here are new index theorems as well as new calculations of the eta-invariant, of the spectral flow, of the Maslov index, of Seiberg-Witten monopoles, heat kernels, determinants, non-commutative residues, and of the Ray-Singer torsion. New types of boundary value problems for operators of Dirac type and generalizations to manifolds with cuspidal ends, to non-compact and to infinite-dimensional manifolds are also discussed. Throughout the book, the use of advanced analysis methods for gaining geometric insight emerges as a central theme. Aimed at graduate students and researchers, this book would be suitable as a text for an advanced graduate topics course on geometric aspects of partial differential equations and spectral invariants.