On generalized Gaussian free fields and stochastic homogenization

Abstract

We study a generalization of the notion of Gaussian free field (GFF). Although the extension seems minor, we first show that a generalized GFF does not satisfy the spatial Markov property, unless it is a classical GFF. In stochastic homogenization, the scaling limit of the corrector is a possibly generalized GFF described in terms of an "effective fluctuation tensor" that we denote by $\mathsf{Q}$. We prove an expansion of $\mathsf{Q}$ in the regime of small ellipticity ratio. This expansion shows that the scaling limit of the corrector is not necessarily a classical GFF, and in particular does not necessarily satisfy the Markov property.