Gradient estimates for a nonlinear parabolic equation on smooth metric measure spaces with evolving metrics and potentials

Abstract

This article presents new parabolic and elliptic type gradient estimates for positive smooth solutions to a nonlinear parabolic equation involving the Witten Laplacian in the context of smooth metric measure spaces. The metric and potential here are time dependent and evolve under a super Perelman-Ricci flow. The estimates are derived under natural lower bounds on the associated generalised Bakry-\'Emery Ricci curvature tensors and are utilised in establishing fairly general local and global bounds, Harnack-type inequalities and Liouville-type global constancy theorems to mention a few. Other implications and consequences of the results are also discussed.