A discrete leading symbol and spectral asymptotics for natural differential operators

We initiate a systematic study of natural differential operators in Riemannian geometry whose leading symbols are not of Laplace type. In particular, we define a discrete leading symbol for such operators which may be computed pointwise, or from spectral asymptotics. We indicate how this can be applied to the computation of another kind of spectral asymptotics, namely asymptotic expansions of fundamental solutions, and to the computation of conformally covariant operators. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).