Curvature coefficient of the scalar heat kernel ($K(t;x,x)=(4\pi t{)}^{-d/2}(1+tR(x)/6+O(t^2))$)

For $L=-{\nabla }^a{\nabla }_a$ on scalar functions, the leading coefficient of the heat parametrix in normal coordinates is the inverse square root of the metric volume density: $u_0=1+R_{ab}{\xi }^a{\xi }^b/12+O(|\xi {|}^3)$. The heat-kernel transport equations give $u_1(x,x)={\nabla }^a{\nabla }_a{u}_0(x,x)=R(x)/6$. This gives the displayed diagonal expansion. The coefficient is specific to the minimally coupled scalar operator; a bundle connection or a curvature-dependent potential changes the general Laplace-type coefficients.