Weak semiconvexity estimates for Schr\"odinger potentials and logarithmic Sobolev inequality for Schr\"odinger bridges

Abstract

We investigate the quadratic Schr\"odinger bridge problem, a.k.a. Entropic Optimal Transport problem, and obtain weak semiconvexity and semiconcavity bounds on Schr\"odinger potentials under mild assumptions on the marginals that are substantially weaker than log-concavity. We deduce from these estimates that Schr\"odinger bridges satisfy a logarithmic Sobolev inequality on the product space. Our proof strategy is based on a second order analysis of coupling by reflection on the characteristics of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation that reveals the existence of new classes of invariant functions for the corresponding flow.