On the heat kernel of a Cayley graph of $\operatorname{PSL}_2\mathbb{Z}$

Abstract

In this paper, we obtain an explicit formula for the heat kernel on the Cayley graph of the modular group $PSL_2(Z)$, given by the presentation $\langle a,b\mid a^2=1, b^3=1\rangle$. Our approach extends a method of Chung--Yau by observing that the Cayley graph strongly and regularly covers a weighted infinite line. We solve the spectral problem on this line to obtain an integral expression for its heat kernel, and then lift this to the Cayley graph using spectral transfer principles for strongly regular coverings. The explicit formula allows us to determine the Laplace spectrum, containing eigenvalues and continuous parts. As a by-product, we suggest a conjecture on the lower bound for the spectral gap of Cayley graphs of $\operatorname{PSL}_2\mathbb{F}_p$ with our generators, inspired by the analogy with Selberg's $1/4$-conjecture. Numerical evidence to this conjecture is provided for small primes.