Calculus of Variations and Geometric Measure Theory

M. Carducci

Epiperimetric inequalities in the obstacle problem for the fractional Laplacian

created by carducci on 14 Nov 2023
modified on 28 Jan 2026

[BibTeX]

Published Paper

Inserted: 14 nov 2023
Last Updated: 28 jan 2026

Journal: Calc. Var. PDE
Year: 2023
Doi: 10.1007/s00526-024-02767-9

ArXiv: 2311.07570 PDF

Abstract:

Using the epiperimetric inequalities approach, we study the obstacle problem $\min\{(-\Delta)^su,u-\varphi\}=0,$ for the fractional Laplacian $(-\Delta)^s$ with obstacle $\varphi\in C^{k,\gamma}(\mathbb{R}^n)$, $k\ge2$ and $\gamma\in(0,1)$. We prove an epiperimetric inequality for the Weiss' energy $W_{1+s}$ and a logarithmic epiperimetric inequality for the Weiss' energy $W_{2m}$. Moreover, we also prove two epiperimetric inequalities for negative energies $W_{1+s}$ and $W_{2m}$. By these epiperimetric inequalities, we deduce a frequency gap and a characterization of the blow-ups for the frequencies $\lambda=1+s$ and $\lambda=2m$. Finally, we give an alternative proof of the regularity of the points on the free boundary with frequency $1+s$ and we describe the structure of the points on the free boundary with frequency $2m$, with $m\in\mathbb{N}$ and $2m\le k.$