The equivalence of the logarithmic Sobolev inequality and the Dobrushin-Shlosman mixing condition

Given a finite range lattice gas with a compact, continuous spin space, it is shown (cf. Theorem 1.2) that a uniform logarithmic Sobolev inequality (cf. 1.4) holds if and only if the Dobrushin-Shlosman mixing condition (cf. 1.5) holds. As a consequence of our considerations, we also show (cf. Theorems 3.2 and 3.6) that these conditions are equivalent to a statement about the uniform rate at which the associated Glauber dynamics tends to equilibrium. In this same direction, we show (cf. Theorem 3.19) that these ideas lead to a surprisingly strong large deviation principle for the occupation time distribution of the Glauber dynamics.