CR extension near a point of higher type (Q1063150)

Let M be a generic real submanifold of \({\mathbb{C}}^ n\) of class \(C^ k\), \(k\geq 3\). For \(p\in M\) and \(1\leq \ell \leq k-1\), the authors define the \(\ell\)-th Levi form, \(L_ p^{\ell}\), on the (1,0) part of the complexified holomorphic tangent space to M at p, with \(L^ 1_ p\) being the classical Levi form. These are defined by allowing successive Lie brackets to order \(\ell\) and evaluating at p. The point p is of type \(\ell\) if \(L_ p^{\ell}\not\equiv 0\) while \(L_ p^{\ell -1}\equiv 0.\) Suppose p is of type \(\ell\), M is the graph of a function of class \(C^{k,\epsilon}\) \((0<\epsilon \leq 1)\), and \(\omega\) an open neighborhood of p in M. The authors show there is a manifold \({\tilde \omega}\) with \(C^ k\) boundary such that dim \({\tilde \omega}=\dim M+1\), the boundary of \({\tilde \omega}\) is an open neighborhood of p in \(\omega\), and \({\tilde \omega}\) is contained in a family of analytic discs with boundaries in \(\omega\). The authors are then able to prove that a CR function of class \(C^ j\), \(0\leq j\leq k-1\), on \(\omega\) has a CR extension to \({\tilde \omega}\) of class \(C^ j\). In case M is a hypersurface, this extension is holomorphic and defined on both sides of M (or possibly only on one side of M) if \(\ell\) is even (or \(\ell\) is odd). This is a generalization of the classical Hans Levy extension phenomenon.