The \(Tb\)-theorem on non-homogeneous spaces. (Q1886147)

This paper is a continuation of a series by the authors [especially, Duke Math. J. 113, No. 2, 259--312 (2002; Zbl 1055.47027)] in developing the theory of Calderón-Zygmund operators in non-homogeneous spaces. In this paper, \(T1\) and \(Tb\) theorems à la David-Journé-Semmes [\textit{G. David, J. L. Journé} and \textit{S. Semmes}, Rev. Mat. Iberoam. 1, No. 4, 1--56 (1985; Zbl 0604.42014)] are proved. The main result (Theorem 0.4) is stated as follows: Let \(1<p<\infty\), and let \(b_1\) and \(b_2\) be two {weakly accretive} functions. A Calderón-Zygmund operator \(T\) extends to a bounded operator on \(L^p(\mu)\) if and only if the operator \(b_2 T b_1\) is {weakly bounded} and \(Tb_1\) and \(T^\ast b_2\) belong to \(\text{ BMO}=\text{ BMO}(\mu)\). The underlying measure \(\mu\) is not doubling. Instead, it satisfies an {Ahlfors condition} \(\mu(B(x;r))\leq C r^d\) consistent with {standard kernel estimates} on \(T\). The paper is set in the context of Euclidean space, although the result can be extended to non-Euclidean settings. While the main result is stated in a manner consistent with that of the original \(Tb\)-theorem, its precise meaning depends on corresponding precise definitions of weak boundedness, weak accretivity and {BMO}. That the standard definition of \(\text{ BMO}(\mu)\) suffices to account for the desired behavior of \(Tb\) turns out to be nontrivial in the non-homogeneous context and makes use of the fact that \(Tb\) is not an arbitrary element of \(\text{ BMO}(\mu)\). On the other hand, there is not a canonical definition of weak boundedness; however, there is a principal that a weaker assumption of weak boundedness must be accompanied by a stronger version of weak accretivity in order to validate the theorem. As the authors state, the proofs essentially boil down to two main ideas: estimating the matrix of \(T\) in the (weighted) Haar basis and eliminating bad cases by averaging over random dyadic cubes. Bad cases arise from failure of the doubling property, meaning that one cannot get good control of \(\langle T\phi_Q,\psi_R\rangle\) for functions \(\phi_Q\) and \(\psi_R\) supported on cubes \(Q,R\) that are too close to one another. Precise estimates for nearby cubes make use of Whitney decompositions and require technical virtuosity. An application to electrical capacities is also noted.