Gradient estimates and Harnack inequalities of a parabolic equation under geometric flow (Q2287228)

This paper studies parabolic equation \[ (\Delta-q(x, t)-\partial_t)u(x, t) = A(u(x, t)) \] on Riemannian manifold \(M\) evolving by the geometric flow \[ \frac{\partial}{\partial t}g(t)=2h(t) \] where \((x,t) \in M \times [0, T],\) \(q(x,t)\) is a function on \(M \times [0, T]\) of \(C^2\) in \(x\)-variables and \(C^1\) in \(t\)-variable, \(A(u)\) is a function of \(C^2\) in \(u\), and \(h(t)\) is a symmetric \((0, 2)\)-tensor field on \((M, g(t))\). We recall that, when we have \(h(t) = -\)Ric\(t\), we have the Rcci flow widely studied in literature. The study of gradient estimates for such kind of equations was originated by the seminal paper by P. Li and S.-T. Yau. They proved a space-time gradient estimate for positive solutions of the heat equation on a complete manifold. By integrating the gradient estimate along a space-time path, a Harnack inequality was derived. In this paper, analogously, the authors establish space-time gradient estimates for positive solutions and elliptic type gradient estimates for bounded positive solutions of this equation. By integrating the gradient estimates, they derive the corresponding Harnack inequalities. Finally, as applications, they give gradient estimates of some specific parabolic equations.