A finite-dimensionality result

Abstract

As briefly mentioned at the beginning of the previous chapter, typical geometric applications of Theorem 4.5 are obtained by applying it when the function ψ is the norm of the section of a suitable vector bundle. In appropriate circumstances, the theorem guarantees that certain vector subspaces of such sections are trivial, the main geometric assumption being the existence of a positive solution ϕ of the differential inequality

$$ \Delta \varphi + Ha\left( x \right)\varphi \leqslant 0 weakly on M, $$

(5.1)

where a(x) is a lower bound for the relevant curvature term. According to Lemma 3.10 this amounts to requiring that the bottom of the spectrum of the Schrödinger operator −Δ − Ha(x) is non-negative.