Convexity of power functions and bilinear embedding for divergence-form operators with complex coefficients (Q2216734)

Let \(A\) be a \textit{complex} uniformly elliptic \(d\times d\) matrix function on \({\mathbb R}^d\) with \(L^{\infty}\) coefficients. For \(p\in [1,+\infty]\) define \[\Delta_p(A):=\underset{x}{\mathrm{ess}\inf} \min\limits_{|\xi|=1} \mathrm{Re} \langle A(x)\xi, {\mathcal I}_{p}\xi\rangle_{{\mathbb C}^d},\] where \({\mathcal I}_{p}\xi=\xi+(1-2/p)\overline{\xi},\quad \xi\in{\mathbb C}^{d}\). Consider the divergence-form operator \({{\mathscr L}}^{A}=-\mathrm{div}(A\nabla)\). The authors introduce a concept of \(p\)-ellipticity. An operator \({{\mathscr L}}^{A}\) is called \textit{\(p\)-elliptic} if \(\Delta_p(A)>0\). In a different form, this condition was formulated by \textit{A. Cialdea} and \textit{V. Maz'ya} [J. Math. Pures Appl. (9) 84, No. 8, 1067--1100 (2005; Zbl 1093.47047)] in their study of \(L^p\)-dissipativity. The same condition arises in the study by \textit{M. Dindoš} and \textit{J. Pipher} [Adv. Math. 341, 255--298 (2019; Zbl 1409.35071)] of the regularity of elliptic PDEs with complex coefficients. \par The main result of the paper under review is the following bilinear inequality on \({\mathbb R}^d\) for any pair of \(p\)-elliptic operators \(A, B\): \[\int\limits_0^\infty\int\limits_{{\mathbb R}^d} |\nabla e^{-tA}f(x)|\,|\nabla e^{-tB}g(x)|\,\,dx\,dt\leq \frac{C}{\min\left\{{\Delta_p(A),\Delta_p(B)}\right\} } \|f\|_p \|g\|_q,\quad q=\frac{p}{p-1}.\] The proof is based on the Bellman-function method. \par It is also proved that the condition \(\Delta_p(A) > 0\) implies contractivity in \(L^p\) of the semigroup generated by \(-\mathrm{div}(A\nabla)\). The connection of \(p\)-ellipticity with the holomorphic functional calculus is explained.