Interpolations and fractional Sobolev spaces in Carnot groups (Q1633682)

The authors present an alternative characterization of fractional Sobolev spaces in a Carnot group \(\mathbb G\) using the \(K\)-method of real interpolation. Let \((A,B)\) be an interpolation pair. It is assumed that \(A+B\) is normed by Peetre's \(K\)-functional \(K(t,a,A,B) = \inf\limits_{a=a_1+a_2} \|a_1\|_A+t\|a_2\|_B\). For \(0<s<1\) and \(1\leq q <\infty\), define the interpolation space \((A,B)_{s,q} = \{f\in A+B : |f|_{s,q}<\infty\}\), where \[ |f|^q_{s,q} = s(1-s)q\int_0^{\infty}(t^{-s}K(t,f,A,B))^q\frac{dt}{t}. \] Then it is proved that \((L^p(\mathbb G), \dot{W}^{1,p}(\mathbb G))_{s,p} = \dot{W}^{s,p}(\mathbb G)\) and \((L^1(\mathbb G), \dot{BV}(\mathbb G))_{s,1} = \dot{W}^{s,1}(\mathbb G)\), and that pairs \((L^p(\mathbb G), \dot{W}^{1,p}(\mathbb G))\), \((L^1(\mathbb G), \dot{BV}(\mathbb G))\) are normal. The above results allow to describe the limiting behavior of the fractional Sobolev norms at the end-points (similar to the results of Bourgain-Brezis-Mironescu and Maz'ya-Shaposhnikova, see, e.g., [\textit{M. Milman}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 357, No. 9, 3425--3442 (2005; Zbl 1095.46015); \textit{J. Dávila}, Calc. Var. Partial Differ. Equ. 15, No. 4, 519--527 (2002; Zbl 1047.46025)]. As other applications, the fractional perimeter in Carnot groups is studied. In particular, there are descriptions of its limiting behavior and connections to the \(K\)-functional.