The spectrum of basic Dirac operators

Abstract

This is a survey article on a known generalization of Dirac-type operators to transverse operators called basic Dirac operators on Riemannian foliations, which are smooth foliations that have a transverse geometric structure. Construction of these operators requires the additional structure of what is called a bundle-like metric. We explain the result by Habib-R. that the spectrum of such an operator is independent of the choice of bundle-like metric, provided that the transverse geometric structure is fixed. We discuss consequences, which include defining a new version of the exterior derivative and de Rham cohomology that are nicely adapted to this transverse geometric setting.