Quasiconvex functions and Hessian equations (Q1416775)

Let \(S^{n\times n}\) denote the set of symmetric matrices. A continuous function \(f:S^{n\times n}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}\) is said to be quasiconvex (according to \textit{C. B. Morrey jun.} [Pac. J. Math. 2, 25--53 (1952; Zbl 0046.10803)]) if for any \(A\in S^{n\times n}\) and any smooth compactly supported function \(\varphi:\Omega\rightarrow\mathbb{R}\) the inequality \(\int_{\Omega}f(A)\,dx\leq\int_{\Omega}f(A+D^{2}\varphi)\,dx\) holds. The paper provides a family of examples of quasiconvex functions of the above form, which contains the one previously given by \textit{V. Šverák} [Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 119, No. 4, 293--300 (1992; Zbl 0823.26009)]. Connections with the theory of gradient Young measures are also discussed.