Partial regularity results for subelliptic systems in the Heisenberg group (Q2478175)

The systems studied in this paper are of the form \(\sum_i X_iA_i(q,Xu)=0\) for vector-valued functions \(u:H^n\to \mathbb R^n\) on the \((2n+1)\)-dimensional Heisenberg group \(H^n\). The (natural) assumptions on \(A\) include uniform subellipticity and \(p\)-growth with \(p\geq2\). As a first step in the proof of partial regularity for solutions of such systems, estimates for the constant coefficient version of the system are proven, partially re-proven. The main ingredients of their proof are difference quotient methods which lead to fractional estimates. Using an interesting iteration scheme, these fractional estimates can be improved from more straightforward to more useful versions. The most problematic ``vertical'' fractional difference quotients are handled using a trick from [\textit{A. Domokos}, On the regularity of \(p\)-harmonic functions in the Heisenberg group. Ph.D. thesis, University of Pittsburgh (2004)]. These estimates serve as reference estimates for excess decay for the original system, which is close to the corresponding system with ``frozen coefficients''. The solutions of the respective systems are related to each other using the technique of \({\mathcal A}\)-harmonic approximation, introduced to the regularity of elliptic systems by \textit{F. Duzaar} and \textit{J. F. Grotowski} [Manuscr. Math. 103, No. 3, 267--298 (2000; Zbl 0971.35025)]. All these considerations result in a partial regularity theorem stating that the horizontal gradient of solutions is Hölder-continuous (with natural exponent) outside a relatively closed singular set of vanishing Haar measure.