Heat kernel bounds for parabolic equations with singular (form-bounded) vector fields

Abstract

We consider Kolmogorov operator $-\nabla \cdot a \cdot \nabla + b \cdot \nabla$ with measurable uniformly elliptic matrix $a$ and prove Gaussian lower and upper bounds on its heat kernel under minimal assumptions on the vector field $b$ and its divergence ${\rm div\,}b$. More precisely, we prove: (1) Gaussian lower bound, provided that ${\rm div\,}b \geq 0$, and $b$ is in the class of form-bounded vector fields (containing e.g.\,the class $L^d$, the weak $L^d$ class, as well as some vector fields that are not even in $L_{\rm loc}^{2+\varepsilon}$, $\varepsilon>0$); in these assumptions, the Gaussian upper bound is in general invalid; (2) Gaussian upper bound, provided that $b$ is form-bounded, and the positive part of ${\rm div\,}b$ is in the Kato class; in these assumptions, the Gaussian lower bound is in general invalid; (3) Gaussian upper and lower bounds, provided that $b$ is form-bounded, ${\rm div\,}b$ is in the Kato class; (4) A priori Gaussian upper and lower bounds, provided that $b$ is in a large class containing the class of form-bounded vector fields, ${\rm div\,}b$ is in the Kato class.