A maximum principle and results on potentials (Q1068988)

Let \(\Omega\) be a Green domain in \({\mathbb{R}}^ n\) (n\(\geq 2)\) and let \(\Delta_ 1\) be the minimal Martin boundary of \(\Omega\). If v is positive and superharmonic in \(\Omega\) and \(h_ v\) is the greatest harmonic minorant of v in \(\Omega\), then \(\mu_ v\) denotes the measure on \(\Delta_ 1\) occurring in the Martin representation of \(h_ v\). Let \(\psi\) : [0,\(\infty)\to [0,\infty)\) be a concave bijection such that \(x^{-1} \psi (x)\to 0\) as \(x\to \infty.\) The author proves the following generalized maximum principle and deduces several consequences from it: Let s be subharmonic in \(\Omega\) and let v be a positive superharmonic function in \(\Omega\) such that v \(\psi\) \({}^{-1}(s^+/v)\) (which is subharmonic in \(\Omega)\) has a harmonic majorant in \(\Omega\). If, for all \(z\in \Delta_ 1\) except for a set of zero interior \(\mu_ v\)-measure, there exists a set \(E_ z\), non-thin at z, such that \(\limsup_{x\Rightarrow z, x\in E_ z}(s(x)/v(x))\leq 0,\) then \(s\leq 0\) in \(\Omega\). Examples of results whose proofs use the above theorem are the 'if' parts of the following: (i) Let \(u\geq 0\) and \(v>0\) be superharmonic in \(\Omega\). then v \(\psi\) (u/v) is a potential if and only if u/v has a finite limit a. e. \((\mu_ v)\) on \(\Delta_ 1\); (ii) Let \(\Omega\) be a half-space, cylinder, cone or strip, and let \(u\geq 0\) be superharmonic in \(\Omega\). Then \(\psi\) (u) is a potential in \(\Omega\) if and only if u has normal limit 0 a. e. (surface measure) on \(\partial \Omega.\) The paper generalizes earlier work of several authors dealing with cases in which \(v\equiv 1\) or \(\Omega\) is less general.