Uniqueness of the Kontsevich-Vishik Trace

Abstract

Let M be a closed manifold. We show that the Kontsevich-Vishik trace, which is defined on the set of all classical pseudodifferential operators on M, whose (complex) order is not an integer greater than or equal to -dim M, is the unique functional which (i) is linear on its domain, (ii) has the trace property and (iii) coincides with the L^2-operator trace on trace class operators. Also the extension to even-even pseudodifferential operators of arbitrary integer order on odd-dimensional manifolds and to even-odd pseudodifferential operators of arbitrary integer order on even-dimensional manifolds is unique.