Wigner analysis of operators. Part I: Pseudodifferential operators and wave fronts

Abstract

We perform Wigner analysis of linear operators. Namely, the standard time-frequency representation Short-time Fourier Transform (STFT) is replaced by the A - Wigner distribution defined by W A ( f ) = μ ( A ) ( f ⊗ f ¯ ) , where A is a 4 d × 4 d symplectic matrix and μ ( A ) is an associate metaplectic operator. Basic examples are given by the so-called τ -Wigner distributions. Such representations provide a new characterization for modulation spaces when τ ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) . Furthermore, they can be efficiently employed in the study of the off-diagonal decay for pseudodifferential operators with symbols in the Sjöstrand class (in particular, in the Hörmander class S 0 , 0 0 ). The novelty relies on defining time-frequency representations via metaplectic operators, developing a conceptual framework and paving the way for a new understanding of quantization procedures. We deduce micro-local properties for pseudodifferential operators in terms of the Wigner wave front set. Finally, we compare the Wigner with the global Hörmander wave front set and identify the possible presence of a ghost region in the Wigner wave front. In the second part of the paper applications to Fourier integral operators and Schrödinger equations will be given.