Microlocal Analysis and Precise Spectral Asymptotics

The problem of spectral asymptotics, in particular the problem of the asymptotic dis tribution of eigenvalues, is one of the central problems in the spectral theory of partial differential operators; moreover, it is very important for the general theory of partial differential operators. I started working in this domain in 1979 after R. Seeley found a remainder estimate of the same order as the then hypothetical second term for the Laplacian in domains with boundary, and M. Shubin and B. M. Levitan suggested that I should try to prove Weyl's conjecture. During the past fifteen years I have not left the topic, although I had such intentions in 1985 when the methods I invented seemed to fai! to provide furt her progress and only a couple of not very exciting problems remained to be solved. However, at that time I made the step toward local semiclassical spectral asymptotics and rescaling, and new horizons opened.