The Diederich--Fornæss index II: for domains of trivial index

Abstract: We study bounded pseudoconvex domains in complex Euclidean spaces. We find analytical necessary conditions and geometric sufficient conditions for a domain being of trivial Diederich--Forn\ae ss index (i.e. the index equals to 1). We also connect a differential equation to the index. This reveals how a topological condition affects the solution of the associated differential equation and consequently obstructs the index being trivial. The proofs relies on a new method of study of the complex geometry of the boundary. The method was motivated by geometric analysis of Riemannian manifolds. We also generalize our main theorems under the context of de Rham cohomology.