Phase space analysis of semilinear parabolic equations

Abstract: We present a wave packet analysis of a class of possibly degenerate parabolic equations with variable coefficients. As a consequence, we prove local wellposedness of the corresponding Cauchy problem in spaces of low regularity, namely the modulation spaces, assuming a nonlinearity of analytic type. As another application, we deduce that the corresponding phase space flow decreases the global wave front set. We also consider the action on spaces of analytic functions, provided the coefficients are analytic themselves.