Heat kernel estimates for $\Delta+\Delta^{\alpha/2}$ under gradient perturbation

Abstract

For $d \ge 2$, $\alpha \in (0,2)$ and $M > 0$, we consider the gradient perturbation of a family of nonlocal operators $\{\Delta+a^\alpha\Delta^{\alpha/2}, a\in (0,M]\}$. We establish the existence and uniqueness of the fundamental solution $p(t, x, y)$ for \begin{equation*} \mathcal{L}^{a,b} = \Delta+a^\alpha\Delta^{\alpha/2} + b\cdot \nabla, \end{equation*} where $b$ is in Kato class $\mathbb{K}_{d,1}$ on $\mathbb{R}^d$. We show that $p(t, x, y)$ is jointly continuous and derive its sharp two-sided estimates. The kernel $p(t, x, y)$ determines a conservative Feller process $X$. We further show that the law of $X$ is the unique solution of the martingale problem for $(\mathcal{L}^{a,b}, C^\infty_c (\mathbb{R}^d)$ and $X$ can be represented as $$ X_t = X_0 + Z^a_t + \int_0^t b(X_s) ds, \qquad t\geq 0, $$ where $Z^a_t= B_t +aY_t$ for a Brownian motion $B$ and an independent isotropic $\alpha$-stable process $Y$. Moreover, we prove that the above SDE has a unique weak solution.