Sub-Laplacian generalized curvature dimension inequalities on Riemannian foliations

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Authors: Fabrice Baudoin, Guang Chong Yang
Cited by: 0

Abstract

We develop a Bochner theory and Bakry-Emery calculus for horizontal Laplacians associated with general Riemannian foliations. No bundle-like assumption on the metric, nor any total geodesicity or minimality condition on the leaves is imposed. Using a metric connection adapted to the horizontal-vertical splitting, we derive explicit Bochner formulas for the horizontal Laplacian acting on horizontal and vertical gradients, as well as a unified identity for the full gradient. These formulas involve horizontal Ricci curvature, torsion and vertical mean curvature terms intrinsic to the foliated structure. From these identities, we establish generalized curvature dimension inequalities, extending earlier results in sub-Riemannian geometry. As applications, we obtain horizontal Laplacian comparison theorems, Bonnet-Myers type compactness results with explicit diameter bounds, stochastic completeness, first eigenvalue estimates and gradient and regularization estimates for the horizontal heat semigroup. The framework applies, in particular, to contact manifolds and Carnot groups of arbitrary step.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Geometric Analysis and Curvature Flows Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations Geometry and complex manifolds

Publication details

Journal / source
arXiv (Cornell University)
Publication date
5 January 2026
Document type
Preprint