Solvability of subprincipal type operators

Abstract

In this paper we consider the solvability of pseudodifferential operators in the case when the principal symbol vanishes of order $k \ge 2 $ at a nonradial involutive manifold $\Sigma_2$. We shall assume that the operator is of subprincipal type, which means that the $ k$:th inhomogeneous blowup at $\Sigma_2$ of the refined principal symbol is of principal type with Hamilton vector field parallel to the base $\Sigma_2$, but transversal to the symplectic leaves of $\Sigma_2$ at the characteristics. When $k = \infty $ this blowup reduces to the subprincipal symbol. We also assume that the blowup is essentially constant on the leaves of $\Sigma_2$, and does not satisfying the Nirenberg-Treves condition (${\Psi}$). We also have conditions on the vanishing of the normal gradient and the Hessian of the blowup at the characteristics. Under these conditions, we show that $P$ is not solvable.