A generalization of PDE's from a Krylov point of view (Q783212)

In this paper the authors introduce and study the notion of a ``generalized equation'', extending the notion of nonlinear elliptic equations, and based on the definitions of subequations and Dirichlet duality. Here, a differential operator \(f\) is replaced by the constraint set \(\mathbb{F}=\{A\in\text{Sym}^2(\mathbb{R}^n) : f(A)\ge A\}\). The equation \(f(D^2u)=0\) is replaced by the constraint condition \(D^2u\in \partial\mathbb{F}\). The ellipticity hypothesis is assumed in its weakest form: \(\mathbb{F}+\mathcal{P}\subset\mathbb{F}\), where \(\mathcal{P}=\{P\in\text{Sym}^2(\mathbb{R}^n) \ | \ P\ge 0\}\). Any closed subset \(\mathbb{F}\subset\text{Sym}^2(\mathbb{R}^n)\) satisfying such positivity condition is called a subequation. A subset \(\mathbb{H}\subset \text{Sym}^2(\mathbb{R}^n)\) is a generalized equation if \(\mathbb{H}=\mathbb{E}\cap (-\tilde{\mathbb{G}})\), where \(\mathbb{E}\) and \(\mathbb{G}\) are subequations and \(\tilde{\mathbb{G}}\) is the subequation dual to \(\mathbb{G}\). The authors use a viscosity definition of ``solution'' to \(\mathbb{H}\). The mirror of \(\mathbb{H}\) is defined as \(\mathbb{H}^*=\mathbb{G}\cap(-\tilde{\mathbb{E}})\). One of the main results of this paper addressed the Dirichlet problem on arbitrary domains \(\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n\) for solutions to \(\mathbb{H}\) with prescribed boundary data \(\varphi\in C(\partial\Omega)\). In particular, the authors prove that uniqueness holds if, and only if, \(\mathbb{H}\) has no interior. Furthermore, existence holds if, and only if \(\mathbb{H}^*\) has no interior. For the existence result, appropriate boundary convexity of \(\partial\Omega\) is assumed. Examples of generalized equations are included. Among them are the constrained Laplacian, the twisted Monge-Ampère equation, and the \(C^{1,1}\)-equation. The authors also characterize intrinsically the closed sets \(\mathbb{H}\subset \text{Sym}^2(\mathbb{R}^n)\) which can be written as generalized equations. For such \(\mathbb{H}\), the set of subequation pairs \((\mathbb{E},\mathbb{G})\) with \(\mathbb{H}=\mathbb{E}\cap(-\tilde{\mathbb{G}})\) is partially ordered, and if \((\mathbb{E},\mathbb{G})\prec(\mathbb{E}',\mathbb{G}')\), any solution of the first is a solution of the second. Moreover, in this ordered set, there is a canonical least element. Finally, a general form of the main theorem is established, which holds on any manifold.