Perelman's $\mathcal W$-Entropy Monotonicity Formula (Theorem # 6014)
Theorem
Let $(M^n,g(t))$ be a Ricci flow on a closed manifold for $t\in[0,T]$. Let $\tau:[0,T]\to(0,\infty)$ be a smooth function satisfying $\partial_t\tau=-1$. Let $f:M\times[0,T]\to\mathbb R$ be a smooth function, and define $u:M\times[0,T]\to(0,\infty)$ by
\begin{align*}
u=(4\pi\tau)^{-n/2}e^{-f}
\end{align*}
Assume that this function $u$ solves the conjugate [heat equation](/page/Heat%20Equation) and has total mass $1$ for every $t$. Let $\mathcal W$ denote Perelman's W-functional, viewed as a map from triples $(h,\varphi,\sigma)$ consisting of a Riemannian metric $h$ on $M$, a smooth function $\varphi:M\to\mathbb{R}$, and a positive parameter $\sigma\in(0,\infty)$ to $\mathbb{R}$. Then
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]
=2\tau\int_M \left|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f-\frac{1}{2\tau}g\right|_g^2
(4\pi\tau)^{-n/2}e^{-f}\,d\mu_g \ge 0.
\end{align*}
Knowledge Status
Analysis
Discussion
The Perelman's W-Entropy Monotonicity Formula identifies a monotone or variational quantity in Ricci flow. It is useful as a reference point for arguments involving curvature, parabolic regularity, singularities, and canonical geometric models.
Proof
[proofplan]
We rewrite the conjugate [heat equation](/page/Heat%20Equation) in terms of the potential $f$ and use the evolving probability measure with density $u$. The core computation differentiates the weighted scalar-curvature-plus-gradient-energy term and shows that its variation is the weighted square of the Ricci tensor plus the Hessian of $f$. We then differentiate Perelman's W-functional, use $\partial_t\tau=-1$, and complete the square to obtain the stated non-negative expression.
[/proofplan]
[step:Derive the evolution equation for the potential $f$]
Fix $t\in[0,T]$. In this proof all geometric quantities are computed with respect to $g(t)$ unless the time dependence is displayed. Let $S_g:M\to\mathbb{R}$ denote the [scalar curvature](/page/Scalar%20Curvature) of $g(t)$, let $\operatorname{Ric}_g$ denote the [Ricci curvature](/page/Ricci%20Curvature), let $\nabla$ denote the [Levi-Civita connection](/page/Levi-Civita%20Connection) of $g(t)$, let $\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f$ denote the [Hessian](/page/Hessian) of $f(\cdot,t)$, let $\Delta_g=\operatorname{div}_g\nabla$ denote the [Laplace-Beltrami operator](/page/Laplace-Beltrami%20Operator), let $\operatorname{tr}_g$ denote trace with respect to the metric $g(t)$, and let $d\mu_g$ denote the Riemannian volume measure. If $\alpha$ is a one-form, write $\alpha^\sharp$ for the vector field obtained by raising its index with $g(t)$. The flow equation $\partial_tg=-2\operatorname{Ric}_g$ is the [Ricci flow](/page/Ricci%20Flow), and the equation $\partial_tu=-\Delta_gu+S_gu$ is the [conjugate heat equation](/page/Conjugate%20Heat%20Equation). Since the theorem assumes a smooth Ricci flow on the closed manifold $M$ and a smooth positive conjugate heat density $u$, the standard evolution formulas for scalar curvature, volume measure, and gradient norms under Ricci flow apply at every interior time, with one-sided interpretation at the endpoints.
Since
\begin{align*}
u=(4\pi\tau)^{-n/2}e^{-f},
\end{align*}
taking the time derivative of $\log u$ gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_t\log u
=
\frac{n}{2\tau}-\partial_t f.
\end{align*}
On the other hand, the conjugate heat equation and the identity
\begin{align*}
\frac{\Delta_g u}{u}
=
-\Delta_g f+|\nabla f|_g^2
\end{align*}
give
\begin{align*}
\partial_t\log u
=
\frac{\partial_tu}{u}
=
-\frac{\Delta_gu}{u}+S_g
=
\Delta_g f-|\nabla f|_g^2+S_g.
\end{align*}
Equating these two formulas yields
\begin{align*}
\partial_t f
=
-\Delta_g f+|\nabla f|_g^2-S_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
The [volume-form evolution under Ricci flow](/page/Ricci%20Flow) gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_t(d\mu_g)=-S_g\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Let $\mathcal B(M)$ denote the Borel $\sigma$-algebra of the closed manifold $M$. Therefore the weighted measure $\nu_t:\mathcal B(M)\to[0,1]$ defined by
\begin{align*}
\nu_t(A)=\int_A u(\cdot,t)\,d\mu_{g(t)}
\end{align*}
for each $A\in\mathcal B(M)$ satisfies, as a density identity,
\begin{align*}
\partial_t(u\,d\mu_g)
=
(\partial_tu-S_gu)\,d\mu_g
=
-\Delta_gu\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
[guided]
We first translate the equation for $u$ into an equation for $f$, because $\mathcal W$ is written using $f$ rather than $u$. The relation between them is
\begin{align*}
u=(4\pi\tau)^{-n/2}e^{-f}.
\end{align*}
Taking logarithms gives
\begin{align*}
\log u=-\frac n2\log(4\pi\tau)-f.
\end{align*}
Since $\partial_t\tau=-1$, differentiating in time gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_t\log u
=
-\frac n2\frac{\partial_t\tau}{\tau}-\partial_t f
=
\frac{n}{2\tau}-\partial_t f.
\end{align*}
Now use the conjugate heat equation. Because $u>0$, we may divide by $u$:
\begin{align*}
\partial_t\log u
=
\frac{\partial_tu}{u}
=
-\frac{\Delta_gu}{u}+S_g.
\end{align*}
The spatial identity for the displayed definition of $u$ is
\begin{align*}
\nabla u=-u\nabla f,
\qquad
\Delta_gu
=
-u\Delta_g f+u|\nabla f|_g^2.
\end{align*}
Thus
\begin{align*}
-\frac{\Delta_gu}{u}+S_g
=
\Delta_g f-|\nabla f|_g^2+S_g.
\end{align*}
Comparing the two formulas for $\partial_t\log u$ gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_t f
=
-\Delta_g f+|\nabla f|_g^2-S_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
We also record how the weighted measure evolves. Under Ricci flow,
\begin{align*}
\partial_t(d\mu_g)=-S_g\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Combining this with $\partial_tu=-\Delta_gu+S_gu$ gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_t(u\,d\mu_g)
=
(\partial_tu)\,d\mu_g+u\,\partial_t(d\mu_g)
=
(-\Delta_gu+S_gu)\,d\mu_g-S_gu\,d\mu_g
=
-\Delta_gu\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
This identity is the reason closedness of $M$ will remove boundary terms: every time derivative of an integral against $u\,d\mu_g$ produces a Laplacian term, and on a closed manifold Laplacians can be integrated by parts without boundary contributions.
[/guided]
[/step]
[step:Differentiate Perelman's $\mathcal F$-integrand against the conjugate heat measure]
Define $Q:M\times[0,T]\to\mathbb{R}$ by
\begin{align*}
Q(x,t)=S_{g(t)}(x)+|\nabla f(x,t)|_{g(t)}^2.
\end{align*}
Define the functional $\mathcal F:[0,T]\to\mathbb{R}$ by
\begin{align*}
\mathcal F(t)=\int_M Q(\cdot,t)\,u(\cdot,t)\,d\mu_{g(t)}.
\end{align*}
Because $g$, $f$, and $u$ are smooth in space and time on the compact manifold $M$, the scalar curvature, Ricci curvature, Hessian, Laplacian, and all time derivatives used below are smooth and bounded on each compact subinterval of $[0,T]$. This regularity justifies differentiating this integral under the integral sign and applying the standard Ricci-flow evolution formulas pointwise at every interior time. We claim that
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)
=
2\int_M
|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2
u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Indeed, since $M$ is closed, [integration by parts](/theorems/2098) has no boundary term. Using
\begin{align*}
\partial_t(u\,d\mu_g)=-\Delta_gu\,d\mu_g
\end{align*}
and the self-adjointness of $\Delta_g$ on $M$, we obtain
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)=\int_M \partial_t Q\,u\,d\mu_g-\int_M Q\,\Delta_g u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
By self-adjointness of $\Delta_g$ on the closed manifold $M$, this becomes
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)=\int_M \left(\partial_t Q-\Delta_g Q\right)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
The [scalar-curvature evolution under Ricci flow](/page/Ricci%20Flow) applies because $g(t)$ is a smooth Ricci flow on the closed manifold $M$, and gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_tS_g=\Delta_gS_g+2|\operatorname{Ric}_g|_g^2.
\end{align*}
The metric variation $\partial_tg=-2\operatorname{Ric}_g$ gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_t|\nabla f|_g^2=2\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)+2\langle\nabla f,\nabla\partial_t f\rangle_g.
\end{align*}
The [Bochner identity](/page/Bochner%20Identity) gives
\begin{align*}
\Delta_g|\nabla f|_g^2=2\langle\nabla f,\nabla\Delta_g f\rangle_g+2|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2+2\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f).
\end{align*}
Combining these identities gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_tQ-\Delta_gQ
=
2|\operatorname{Ric}_g|_g^2
-2|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2
+
2\left\langle
\nabla f,
\nabla(\partial_t f-\Delta_g f)
\right\rangle_g.
\end{align*}
Substituting
\begin{align*}
\partial_t f-\Delta_g f=-2\Delta_g f+|\nabla f|_g^2-S_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}
\end{align*}
reduces the remaining term to a weighted integration-by-parts calculation. Here $\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_g$ denotes the metric trace [inner product](/page/Inner%20Product) of symmetric $2$-tensors.
[claim:Evaluate the weighted gradient term]
One has
\begin{align*}
\int_M\left\langle\nabla f,\nabla(\partial_t f-\Delta_g f)\right\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g=2\int_M\left(|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2+\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_g\right)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
[/claim]
[proof]
Since $u$ has the displayed form, its spatial gradient is
\begin{align*}
\nabla u=-u\nabla f.
\end{align*}
The term
\begin{align*}
\frac{n}{2\tau}
\end{align*}
is spatially constant, so it disappears after applying $\nabla$. Therefore the left-hand side equals
\begin{align*}
-2\int_M\langle\nabla f,\nabla\Delta_g f\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g+2\int_M\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g-\int_M\langle\nabla f,\nabla S_g\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
For the first term, integrate the Bochner identity against $u$. Since $M$ is closed, the [self-adjointness of the Laplacian](/page/Laplace-Beltrami%20Operator) gives
\begin{align*}
\int_M\frac12\Delta_g|\nabla f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g=\int_M\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Thus Bochner's identity implies
\begin{align*}
\int_M\langle\nabla f,\nabla\Delta_g f\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g=\int_M\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g-\int_M|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g-\int_M\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
For the scalar-curvature term, the [contracted Bianchi identity](/page/Bianchi%20Identity) gives $\operatorname{div}_g\operatorname{Ric}_g=\frac12\nabla S_g$. Applying the [divergence theorem](/theorems/2754) on the closed manifold $M$ to the vector field $u\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\cdot)^{\sharp}$ gives
\begin{align*}
\int_M\langle\nabla S_g,\nabla f\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g=-2\int_M\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g+2\int_M\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Substituting these two identities into the expanded left-hand side cancels the two terms containing $\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f(\nabla f,\nabla f)$ and also cancels the two terms containing $\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)$. The result is exactly
\begin{align*}
2\int_M\left(|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2+\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_g\right)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
[/proof]
Consequently
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)=2\int_M|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
[guided]
The goal of this step is to isolate the exact square that later appears in Perelman's monotonicity formula. For each $t\in[0,T]$, let $S_g:M\to\mathbb{R}$ denote the scalar curvature of $g(t)$, let $\operatorname{Ric}_g$ denote the Ricci curvature of $g(t)$, let $\nabla$ denote the Levi-Civita connection of $g(t)$, let $\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f$ denote the Hessian of $f(\cdot,t)$, let $\Delta_g=\operatorname{div}_g\nabla$ denote the Laplace-Beltrami operator, and let $d\mu_g$ denote the Riemannian volume measure. Define $Q:M\times[0,T]\to\mathbb{R}$ by
\begin{align*}
Q(x,t)=S_{g(t)}(x)+|\nabla f(x,t)|_{g(t)}^2.
\end{align*}
Define the functional $\mathcal F:[0,T]\to\mathbb{R}$ by
\begin{align*}
\mathcal F(t)=\int_MQ(\cdot,t)u(\cdot,t)\,d\mu_{g(t)}.
\end{align*}
Because $g$, $f$, and $u$ are smooth in space and time on compact $M$, all curvature quantities and time derivatives below are smooth and bounded. This justifies differentiating under the integral sign. Since $M$ is closed, the Laplace-Beltrami operator is self-adjoint with no boundary contribution. Using $\partial_t(u\,d\mu_g)=-\Delta_gu\,d\mu_g$, we get
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)=\int_M(\partial_tQ-\Delta_gQ)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
The scalar-curvature evolution under Ricci flow gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_tS_g=\Delta_gS_g+2|\operatorname{Ric}_g|_g^2.
\end{align*}
The metric variation $\partial_tg=-2\operatorname{Ric}_g$ gives
\begin{align*}
\partial_t|\nabla f|_g^2=2\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)+2\langle\nabla f,\nabla\partial_tf\rangle_g.
\end{align*}
Bochner's identity gives
\begin{align*}
\Delta_g|\nabla f|_g^2=2\langle\nabla f,\nabla\Delta_gf\rangle_g+2|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2+2\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f).
\end{align*}
Combining these three formulas cancels the two Ricci-gradient terms and yields
\begin{align*}
\partial_tQ-\Delta_gQ=2|\operatorname{Ric}_g|_g^2-2|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2+2\langle\nabla f,\nabla(\partial_tf-\Delta_gf)\rangle_g.
\end{align*}
Now substitute the equation for $f$,
\begin{align*}
\partial_tf-\Delta_gf=-2\Delta_gf+|\nabla f|_g^2-S_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
The final summand in the displayed equation is spatially constant, so its gradient is zero. Therefore
\begin{align*}
\int_M\langle\nabla f,\nabla(\partial_tf-\Delta_gf)\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g
=-2\int_M\langle\nabla f,\nabla\Delta_gf\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g
+2\int_M\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g
-\int_M\langle\nabla f,\nabla S_g\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
We next compute the first and third terms. Since $u$ has the displayed form, its spatial gradient is
\begin{align*}
\nabla u=-u\nabla f.
\end{align*}
Integrating Bochner's identity against $u$ and using self-adjointness of $\Delta_g$ on closed $M$ gives
\begin{align*}
\int_M\frac12\Delta_g|\nabla f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g
=-\int_M\frac12\langle\nabla|\nabla f|_g^2,\nabla u\rangle_g\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Since $\nabla u=-u\nabla f$, this equals
\begin{align*}
\int_M\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Thus Bochner's identity implies
\begin{align*}
\int_M\langle\nabla f,\nabla\Delta_gf\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g
=\int_M\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g
-\int_M|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g
-\int_M\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
For the scalar-curvature term, use the contracted Bianchi identity
\begin{align*}
\operatorname{div}_g\operatorname{Ric}_g=\frac12\nabla S_g.
\end{align*}
Applying the [divergence theorem](/theorems/3614) on the closed manifold $M$ to the vector field $u\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\cdot)^{\sharp}$ gives
\begin{align*}
0
=\int_M\operatorname{div}_g\left(u\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\cdot)^{\sharp}\right)\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Expanding the divergence gives
\begin{align*}
0
=\int_M\langle\nabla u,\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\cdot)^{\sharp}\rangle_g\,d\mu_g
+\int_Mu\langle\operatorname{div}_g\operatorname{Ric}_g,\nabla f\rangle_g\,d\mu_g
+\int_Mu\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_g\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Using $\nabla u=-u\nabla f$ and the contracted Bianchi identity, this becomes
\begin{align*}
0
=-\int_M\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g
+\frac12\int_M\langle\nabla S_g,\nabla f\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g
+\int_M\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Solving this identity for the scalar-curvature integral yields
\begin{align*}
\int_M\langle\nabla S_g,\nabla f\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g
=2\int_M\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)u\,d\mu_g
-2\int_M\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Substituting the Bochner and Bianchi evaluations into the expanded weighted gradient term, the terms involving $\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f(\nabla f,\nabla f)$ cancel and the terms involving $\operatorname{Ric}_g(\nabla f,\nabla f)$ cancel. The remaining terms are
\begin{align*}
\int_M\langle\nabla f,\nabla(\partial_tf-\Delta_gf)\rangle_gu\,d\mu_g
=2\int_M\left(|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2+\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_g\right)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Substituting this identity into the derivative of $\mathcal F$ gives
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)
=2\int_M|\operatorname{Ric}_g|_g^2u\,d\mu_g
-2\int_M|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g
+4\int_M\left(|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2+\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_g\right)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Collecting the three terms gives
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)
=2\int_M\left(|\operatorname{Ric}_g|_g^2+2\langle\operatorname{Ric}_g,\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f\rangle_g+|\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2\right)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
The last integrand is the metric square of the symmetric $2$-tensor $\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f$, so
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)=2\int_M|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
[/guided]
[/step]
[step:Compute the derivative of the entropy term]
Define the entropy functional $E:[0,T]\to\mathbb{R}$ by
\begin{align*}
E(t)=\int_M f(\cdot,t)\,u(\cdot,t)\,d\mu_{g(t)}.
\end{align*}
The smoothness of $f$, $u$, and $g$ on compact $M$ justifies differentiating this integral under the integral sign. Using the evolution of $u\,d\mu_g$ and [integration by parts](/theorems/210) on the closed manifold $M$,
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)=\int_M \partial_t f\,u\,d\mu_g-\int_M f\,\Delta_g u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
By self-adjointness of $\Delta_g$ on the closed manifold $M$, this is
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)=\int_M \partial_t f\,u\,d\mu_g-\int_M u\,\Delta_g f\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Substituting the equation for $\partial_t f$ gives
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)
&=
\int_M
\left(
-2\Delta_g f+|\nabla f|_g^2-S_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}
\right)
u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Since $\nabla u=-u\nabla f$, integration by parts gives
\begin{align*}
\int_M \Delta_g f\,u\,d\mu_g
=
-\int_M \langle\nabla f,\nabla u\rangle_g\,d\mu_g
=
\int_M |\nabla f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Therefore, using the normalization $\int_Mu\,d\mu_g=1$,
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)=-\int_M\left(S_g+|\nabla f|_g^2\right)u\,d\mu_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
[guided]
Define the entropy functional $E:[0,T]\to\mathbb{R}$ by $E(t)=\int_Mf(\cdot,t)u(\cdot,t)\,d\mu_{g(t)}$. The smoothness of $f$, $u$, and $g$ on compact $M$ justifies differentiating under the integral sign. Differentiating an integral against the evolving measure $u\,d\mu_g$ gives two contributions: the explicit derivative of $f$ and the derivative of the measure. Since $\partial_t(u\,d\mu_g)=-\Delta_gu\,d\mu_g$, we obtain
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)=\int_M\partial_tfu\,d\mu_g-\int_Mf\Delta_gu\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Self-adjointness of $\Delta_g$ on the closed manifold $M$ changes the second integral to $-\int_Mu\Delta_gf\,d\mu_g$. Substituting the displayed formula for $\partial_tf$ gives
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)=\int_M\left(-2\Delta_gf+|\nabla f|_g^2-S_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}\right)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Finally, $\nabla u=-u\nabla f$ and the absence of boundary terms imply
\begin{align*}
\int_M\Delta_gfu\,d\mu_g=\int_M|\nabla f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Using the mass normalization $\int_Mu\,d\mu_g=1$, we conclude
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)=-\int_M\left(S_g+|\nabla f|_g^2\right)u\,d\mu_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
[/guided]
[/step]
[step:Differentiate $\mathcal W$ and complete the square]
By definition,
\begin{align*}
\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]
=
\tau(t)\mathcal F(t)+E(t)-n.
\end{align*}
Hence, since $\partial_t\tau=-1$,
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]=-\mathcal F(t)+\tau(t)\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)+\frac{d}{dt}E(t).
\end{align*}
Substituting the formulas for $d\mathcal F/dt$ and $dE/dt$ gives
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]=2\tau\int_M|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g-2\int_M(S_g+|\nabla f|_g^2)u\,d\mu_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
Because
\begin{align*}
\int_M \Delta_g f\,u\,d\mu_g
=
\int_M|\nabla f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g,
\end{align*}
we may rewrite the middle term as
\begin{align*}
-2\int_M(S_g+|\nabla f|_g^2)u\,d\mu_g
=
-2\int_M
\operatorname{tr}_g(\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f)
u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Also,
\begin{align*}
\left|\frac{1}{2\tau}g\right|_g^2
=
\frac{n}{4\tau^2},
\end{align*}
and the normalization of $u\,d\mu_g$ gives
\begin{align*}
2\tau\int_M\left|\frac{1}{2\tau}g\right|_g^2u\,d\mu_g
=
\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
Therefore
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]=2\tau\int_M\left|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f-\frac{1}{2\tau}g\right|_g^2u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
The integrand is pointwise non-negative and $\tau>0$, so
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]\geq 0.
\end{align*}
This is the claimed monotonicity formula.
[guided]
Perelman's [W-functional](/page/Perelman%20W%20Functional) is written here as
\begin{align*}
\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]=\tau(t)\mathcal F(t)+E(t)-n.
\end{align*}
Differentiating and using $\partial_t\tau=-1$ gives
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]=-\mathcal F(t)+\tau(t)\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)+\frac{d}{dt}E(t).
\end{align*}
The previous two steps give
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal F(t)=2\int_M|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g
\end{align*}
and
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}E(t)=-\mathcal F(t)+\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
Therefore
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]=2\tau\int_M|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g-2\int_M(S_g+|\nabla f|_g^2)u\,d\mu_g+\frac{n}{2\tau}.
\end{align*}
The identity $\int_M\Delta_gfu\,d\mu_g=\int_M|\nabla f|_g^2u\,d\mu_g$ rewrites the middle term as the trace of the symmetric $2$-tensor $\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f$:
\begin{align*}
\int_M(S_g+|\nabla f|_g^2)u\,d\mu_g=\int_M\operatorname{tr}_g(\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f)u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Since $|g|_g^2=n$ and $\int_Mu\,d\mu_g=1$, the remaining scalar term satisfies
\begin{align*}
\frac{n}{2\tau}=2\tau\int_M\left|\frac{1}{2\tau}g\right|_g^2u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
Completing the square for symmetric $2$-tensors gives
\begin{align*}
\frac{d}{dt}\mathcal W[g(t),f(t),\tau(t)]=2\tau\int_M\left|\operatorname{Ric}_g+\operatorname{Hess}_{g} f-\frac{1}{2\tau}g\right|_g^2u\,d\mu_g.
\end{align*}
The squared norm is non-negative at every point of $M$, and $\tau>0$, hence $d\mathcal W/dt\geq0$. This proves Perelman's W entropy monotonicity.
[/guided]
[/step]
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