The sub-elliptic obstacle problem: \(C^{1,\alpha }\) regularity of the free boundary in Carnot groups of step two (Q877729)

The authors consider the sub-elliptic obstacle problem. In a previous paper [\textit{D. Danielli, N. Garofalo} and \textit{S. Salsa}, Indiana Univ. Math. J. 52, 361--398 (2003; Zbl 1030.35091)] the optimal regularity of weak solutions is proved (i.e. regularity in the \(\Gamma^{1,1}\) Folland-Stein Lipschitz class), but the problem of the regularity of the free boundary remained an open problem. Here the authors prove that in the case of Carnot groups of step 2 the free boundary is (Euclidean) \(C^{1,\alpha}\) near the points satisfying a certain thickness condition. This result is the sub-elliptic counterpart of a celebrated result due to \textit{L. A. Caffarelli} [Acta Math. 139, 155--184 (1978; Zbl 0386.35046)].