On \(L^p\)-contractivity of semigroups generated by linear partial differential operators (Q1294096)

Using the dissipativity criterion, the authors establish no-go results for generation of contraction semigroups on complex \( L^p \)-spaces by linear partial differential operators (LPDO). In particular, let \( \Omega\subset \mathbb R^n \) be open, \( P=\sum_{|\alpha|\leq k} a_\alpha\partial^\alpha \), where \( a_\alpha \) are \( N\times N \) matrices with entries in \( L_{\text{loc}}^1(\Omega) \), \( n\in\mathbb N \), and at least one of \( \{a_\alpha\}_{|\alpha|=k} \) have an entry nonzero on a set of positive Lebesgue measure (i.e. \(P\) be of order \( k \)). If \( (C_0^\infty(\Omega))^N\subset D (P) \), no such \( P \) of order higher than two can generate a contraction semigroup on \( (L^p(\Omega))^N \), \( 1 \leq p < \infty \), \( p\neq 2 \) (Theorem 4.14). In real \( L^p(\Omega) \), \( 1 < p < \infty \), \( p\neq 2 \), a property similar to \( L^p \)-contractivity is considered for a solution of the Cauchy problem \( s'(t)=As(t) \), \( t\in\mathbb R^+ \); \( s(0) = x \in D(A) \), which is well-posed (having a unique solution in \( C^1(\mathbb R^+,L^p) \)) for all nonnegative \( x\in D(A)^+ \). Given a scalar LPDO \( A \) with \( L_{\text{loc}}^1(\Omega) \)-coefficients and \( C_0^\infty(\Omega)\subset D(A) \), if \( {d\over dt}|s(t)|_p|_{t=0+} \leq 0 \) for all \( x\in D(A)^+ \), then either \( A \) is of order 0, 1 or 2 or \( A \) is of order 4 and \( p\in[3/2,3] \) (Theorem 5.2). A class of such fourth order operators is presented. See also \textit{G. I. Kresin} and \textit{V. G. Maz'ya}, Ark. Mat. 32, 121-155 (1994; Zbl 0803.35017)] for related results in \( L^\infty \) case.