Let L be a linear operator on L2(Rn) generating an analytic
semigroup {e−tL}t≥0 with kernels having pointwise upper bounds and
p(⋅):Rn→(0,1] be a variable exponent function satisfying the
globally log-H\"older continuous condition. In this article, the authors
introduce the variable exponent Hardy space associated with the operator L,
denoted by HLp(⋅)(Rn), and the BMO-type space
BMOp(⋅),L(Rn). By means of tent spaces with
variable exponents, the authors then establish the molecular characterization
of HLp(⋅)(Rn) and a duality theorem between such a Hardy
space and a BMO-type space. As applications, the authors study the boundedness
of the fractional integral on these Hardy spaces and the coincidence between
HLp(⋅)(Rn) and the variable exponent Hardy spaces
Hp(⋅)(Rn).Comment: 47 pages, Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. Math. (to appear