Regularity of the complex Monge-Ampère equation for radially symmetric functions of the unit ball (Q1075497)

The complex Monge-Ampère operator is defined for \(C^ 2\) functions as the determinant of the complex Hessian matrix \(M=\det (\partial^ 2/\partial z_ i\partial \bar z_ j)\). A special case of the general Dirichlet problem for this operator is considered. Specifically, given a nonnegative, radially symmetric function \(f\in C^ k(\bar B)\), \(k\geq 0\), \(B=\{| z| <1\}\), find a plurisubharmonic function \(u\in C^ 2(\bar B)\) such that (i) \(Mu=f\) in B, and (ii) \(u=0\) on the boundary of B. Allowing the function f to vanish causes the major difficulty in this problem. By placing certain conditions on the zeros of f, an explicit solution is obtained. Furthermore, this solution is shown to be smooth. For instance, if \(f\in C^ k(\bar B)\) and f(0)\(\neq 0\), then there exists a solution \(u\in C^{k+2}(\bar B)\). If \(f(0)=0\), conditions on the order of the zeros must be placed on f in order for u to be smooth. Counterexamples show that solutions do not exist in general.