Harmonic vector fields and the Hodge Laplacian operator on Finsler geometry

Abstract: We first present the natural definitions of the horizontal differential, the divergence (as an adjoint operator), and a $p$-harmonic form on a Finsler manifold. Next, we prove a Hodge-type theorem for a Finsler manifold in the sense that a horizontal $p$-form is harmonic if and only if the horizontal Laplacian vanishes. This viewpoint provides a new appropriate natural definition of harmonic vector fields in Finsler geometry. This approach leads to a Bochner-Yano type classification theorem based on the harmonic Ricci scalar. Finally, we show that a closed orientable Finsler manifold with a positive harmonic Ricci scalar has a zero Betti number.