Optimal stopping and best constants for Doob-like inequalities. I: The case \(p=1\) (Q1180587)

Let \(X\) be a non-negative, uniformly integrable submartingale \(X\in D(0,\infty)\). Define \(X^*_ t=_{s\leq t}X_ s\). The best constant \(c_ q\) appearing in the inequalities of the form \(EX^*_ \infty\leq c_ q| X_ \infty|_ q\), \(q>1\), is established. It is shown that the best possible constant \(c_ q=(\Gamma(1+\tilde q))^{1/\tilde q}\), where \(\tilde q=q/(q-1)\). The method of proof is via explicitly solving the problem of optimal stopping the process of the form \(M^*_ t-f(| M_ t|)\), where \(f\) is \({\mathfrak R}\cup\{+\infty\}\)-valued function. Inequalities bounding \(EX^*_ \infty\) by suitable multiples of the Luxemburg and Orlicz norms of \(X_ \infty\) with respect to a convex Young function are also obtained. The result is applied to a version of John-Nirenberg inequality for martingales of bounded mean oscillation. By using a different method the same result concerning the best constant \(c_ q\) was obtained by \textit{D. Gilat} [Isr. J. Math. 63, No. 3, 270-280 (1988; Zbl 0661.60060)].