Resolvent estimates for non-self-adjoint operators via semi-groups

Abstract

We consider a non-self-adjoint $h$-pseudodifferential operator $P$ in the semi-classical limit ($h\to 0$). If $p$ is the leading symbol, then under suitable assumptions about the behaviour of $p$ at infinity, we know that the resolvent $(z-P)^{-1}$ is uniformly bounded for $z$ in any compact set not intersecting the closure of the range of $p$. Under a subellipticity condition, we show that the resolvent extends locally inside the range up to a distance ${\cal O}(1)((h\ln \frac{1}{h})^{k/(k+1)})$ from certain boundary points, where $k\in \{2,4,...\}$. This is a slight improvement of a result by Dencker, Zworski and the author, and it has recently been obtained by W. Bordeaux Montrieux in a model situation where $k=2$. The method of proof is different from the one of Dencker et al, and is based on estimates of an associated semi-group.