On the spectral density function of the Laplacian of a graph

Abstract

Let X be a finite graph. Let E be the number of its edges and d be its degree. Denote by F_1(X) its first spectral density function which counts the number of eigenvalues less or equal to lambda^2 of the associated Laplace operator. We prove the estimate F_1(X)(lambda) - F_1(X)(0) le 2 cdot E cdot d cdot lambda for 0 le lambda < 1. We explain how this gives evidence for conjectures about approximating Fuglede-Kadison determinants and L^2-torsion.

arXiv commentfinal version, added new references, 9 pages, to appear in Expositiones Mathematicae