Regularity of \(n/2\)-harmonic maps into spheres (Q652507)

While for mappings of even-dimensional manifolds there are quadratic energy functionals scaling naturally like \(\int_{M^{2m}}|D^mu|^2\) -- the candidates for odd-dimensional manifolds are not so obvious. \textit{F. Da Lio} and \textit{T. Rivière} [Anal. PDE 4, No. 1, 149--190 (2011; Zbl 1241.35035)] studied the functional \(\int_{\mathbb{R}^1}|\Delta^{1/4}u|^2\) for mappings \(u\) from \(\mathbb{R}\) to Euclidean spheres (and later to more general compact manifolds). The differential operator was nonlocal there; nevertheless Hölder continuity of critical points could be proven. In the paper under review, the author succeeds in discussing a higher-dimensional generalization. He considers the functional \(\int_{\mathbb{R}^n}|\Delta^{n/4}u|^2\) for mappings \(u:\mathbb{R}^n\to S^{m-1}\). Critical points are called \(n/2\)-harmonic maps (but note that the concept is very different from those which are called \(p\)-harmonic or even \(n\)-harmonic maps). The main result of the paper is Hölder regularity of critical points, again. Those are even allowed to be defined on a general domain in \(\mathbb{R}^n\) since \(\Delta^{n/4}\) is pseudo-local. The Euler-Lagrange equations are critical in some suitable sense, resulting in a regularity theory that needs ingredients known from harmonic map theory. In particular, Lorentz spaces are used for compensation inequalities, adapting Tartar's method.