TITLE: Why take 'complex powers' of pseudo-differential operators?
QUESTION [10 upvotes]: Given a pseudo-differential operator $P$ of order zero, Seeley showed that the holomorphic family of operators $\lbrace P^{z} : z\in \mathbb{C} \rbrace$  of all complex powers is contained in the class of pseudo-differential operators. 
Apart from knowing that we can take powers of these operators, is there any application of this theory? I understand the utility of raising operators to fractional powers. But, irrational and complex powers are not clear.

REPLY [4 votes]: Bounded imaginary powers of differential operators may give informations about maximal regularity of evolution equations. see Buzano &Nicola : Complex powers of hypoelliptic pseudodifferential operators.