Linear and quasilinear parabolic equations in Sobolev space

We consider linear parabolic equations of second order in a Sobolev space setting. We obtain existence and uniqueness results for such equations on a closed two-dimensional manifold, with minimal assumptions about the regularity of the coefficients of the elliptic operator. In particular, we derive a priori estimates relating the Sobolev regularity of the coefficients of the elliptic operator to that of the solution. The results obtained are used in conjunction with an iteration argument to yield existence results for quasilinear parabolic equations. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.