Maximal regularity for local minimizers of non-autonomous functionals (Q2119387)

Summary: We establish local \(C^{1,\alpha}\)-regularity for some \(\alpha\in(0,1)\) and \(C^{\alpha}\)-regularity for any \(\alpha\in(0,1)\) of local minimizers of the functional \[ v\mapsto\int_\Omega\varphi(x,|Dv|)dx, \] where \(\varphi\) satisfies a \((p,q)\)-growth condition. Establishing such a regularity theory with sharp, general conditions has been an open problem since the 1980s. In contrast to previous results, we formulate the continuity requirement on \(\varphi\) in terms of a single condition for the map \((x,t)\mapsto\varphi(x,t)\), rather than separately in the \(x\)- and \(t\)-directions. Thus we can obtain regularity results for functionals without assuming that the gap \(q/p\) between the upper and lower growth bounds is close to \(1\). Moreover, for \(\varphi(x,t)\) with particular structure, including \(p\)-, Orlicz-, \(p(x)\)- and double phase-growth, our single condition implies known, essentially optimal, regularity conditions. Hence, we handle regularity theory for the above functional in a universal way.