Microlocal Analysis and Spectral Theory : Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Study Institute, Il Ciocco, Castelvecchio Pascoli (Lucca), Italy, 23 September-3 October 1996

There has been considerable progress in the field of microlocal analysis.

In a broad sense the subject is the modern version of the classical Fourier technique for solving partial differential equations, with the localization process taking account of dual variables.

The tools of pseudo-differential operators, wave-front sets and Fourier integral operators have now conferred a mature form on the theory of linear partial differential operators in the frame of Schwartz distributions or other generalized functions.

At the same time, microlocal analysis has assumed an important role as an independent part of analysis, with other applications throughout mathematics and physics, one major theme being spectral theory for the Schrodinger equation in quantum mechanics.

The papers collected here emphasize the topics of microlocal methods in the study of linear PDEs (analytic-Gevrey regularity of the solutions, elliptic boundary value problems, higher microlocalization), and applications to spectral theory (Schrodinger equation, asymptotic behavior of the eigenvalues, semi-classical analysis in large dimensions and statistical mechanics).