A semigroup approach to Finsler geometry: Bakry-Ledoux's isoperimetric inequality (Q6083959)

The paper under review aims to introduce the semigroup approach in geometric analysis applied to Finsler manifolds, building upon the foundation laid by the Bochner-Weitzenböck formula. This is an application of the renowned semigroup approach pioneered by \textit{D. Bakry} et al. [Analysis and geometry of Markov diffusion operators. Cham: Springer (2014; Zbl 1376.60002)] to Finsler manifolds. The methodology involves leveraging the nonlinearity inherent in the natural Laplacian and heat semigroup, as established by the author and \textit{K.-T. Sturm} [Adv. Math. 252, 429--448 (2014; Zbl 1321.53089)] through the Bochner-Weitzenböck formula. After introducing the \(L^1\)-gradient estimate on Finsler manifolds with some additional assumptions, the author establishes its equivalence to a lower weighted Ricci curvature bound and an enhanced Bochner inequality. In a geometric context, the author demonstrates the applicability of this approach by proving the Gaussian isoperimetric inequality formulated by \textit{D. Bakry} and \textit{M. Ledoux} [Invent. Math. 123, No. 2, 259--281 (1996; Zbl 0855.58011)], with supplementary assumptions in the noncompact case. This extension not only generalizes the inequality by \textit{F. Cavalletti} and \textit{A. Mondino} [Invent. Math. 208, No. 3, 803--849 (2017; Zbl 1375.53053)] to non-reversible metrics on Finsler manifolds but also enhances author's previous estimates from [J. Math. Soc. Japan 70, No. 2, 651--693 (2018; Zbl 1395.53082)]. These advancements are facilitated by using the localization method, also known as the needle decomposition technique.