Higher order Seiberg-Witten functionals and their associated gradient flows

Abstract: We define functionals generalising the Seiberg-Witten functional on closed $spin^c$ manifolds, involving higher order derivatives of the curvature form and spinor field. We then consider their associated gradient flows and, using a gauge fixing technique, are able to prove short time existence for the flows. We then prove energy estimates along the flow, and establish local $L^2$-derivative estimates. These are then used to show long time existence of the flow in sub-critical dimensions. In the critical dimension, we are able to show that long time existence is obstructed by an $L^{k+2}$ curvature concentration phenomenon.