Hypocoercivity and metastability of degenerate KFP equations at low temperature
Abstract
We consider Kramers-Fokker-Planck operators with general degenerate coefficients. We prove semiclassical hypocoercivity estimates for a large class of such operators. Then, we manage to prove Eyring-Kramers formulas for the bottom of the spectrum of some particular degenerate operators in the semiclassical regime, and quantify the spectral gap separating these eigenvalues from the rest of the spectrum. The main ingredient is the construction of sharp Gaussian quasimodes through an adaptation of the WKB method.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Spectral Theory in Mathematical Physics
Geometry and complex manifolds
Advanced Mathematical Physics Problems
Publication details
- Journal / source
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Publication date
- 8 January 2026
- Document type
- Preprint