On the inverse implication of Brenier-McCann theorems and the structure of \((\mathcal P_{2}(M),W_{2})\) (Q390178)

In this paper, the author studies the mass transportation problem. Recall that in [\textit{Y. Brenier}, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 44, No. 4, 375--417 (1991; Zbl 0738.46011)], the existence, uniqueness and structure of the transport map is established. In [\textit{R. J. McCann}, Geom. Funct. Anal. 11, No. 3, 589--608 (2001; Zbl 1011.58009)], the results have been extended to the case of Riemannian manifolds. Remark also the work [\textit{F. Otto}, Commun. Partial Differ. Equations 26, No. 1--2, 101--174 (2001; Zbl 0984.35089)], where the Riemannian structure of the space \((\mathcal{P}_2(M),W_2)\) is described. The results are given in the following Brenier-McCann Theorem (Theorem 1.10). Let \(\mu, \nu\in \mathcal{P}_c(M)\) and assume that \(\mu\) is absolutely continuous. Then, there exists a unique optimal plan from \(\mu\) to \(\nu\) and this plan is induced by the map \(\exp(-\nabla \varphi)\), where \(\varphi\) is a Kantorovich potential for \(\mu, \nu\). The author obtains some results concerning the aspects described above. First, a characterization of those measures to which the Brenier-McCann theorem applies is obtained. Proposition 2.4. Let \(\mu \in \mathcal{P}_2(\mathbb{R}^d)\). Then for every \(\nu \in \mathcal{P}_2(\mathbb{R}^d)\) there exists only one optimal plan from \(\mu\) to \(\nu\) and this plan is induced by a map from \(\mu\) if and only if \(\mu\) is regular. This result is extended to the case of Riemannian manifolds. Then the author obtains a result (Theorem 5.5) giving the identification of the tangent spaces at any measure \(\mu\). Finally the author proves that the class of measures for which the tangent space is a Hilbert space coincides with the class of measures to which the Brenier-McCann theorem applies. In this case, the tangent space is naturally identified with the well known space of gradients.