Selected results and open problems on Hardy-Rellich and Poincaré-Friedrichs inequalities (Q2238322)

In this paper, the author gives a survey of selected results and open problems connected with the Hardy-Rellich and Poincaré-Friedrichs inequalities. Each mentioned open problem is accompanied by a list of known results associated with it. Before we list them, let us repeat some important terms and labels. Let \(\Omega\) be a domains of the Euclidean space \( \mathbb{R}^n\) and \(p\in [1, \infty)\). The Hardy-type inequality for a function \(u:\Omega \rightarrow \mathbb{R}\) has the following form: \[ \int_{\Omega} \frac{|\nabla u(x)|^p}{\rho^{s-p}(x,\Omega)}dx \geq c_p(s,\Omega) \int_{\Omega}\frac{|u(x)|^p}{\rho^s(x,\Omega)} dx, \quad \mbox{ for all } u\in C_0^1(\Omega), \] where \(\rho(x,\Omega) := \operatorname{dist}(x, \partial \Omega)\) and the constant \(c_p(s,\Omega)\) is sharp, i.e., it is defined as the maximum possible constant at this place. Let \(\Omega \subset \overline{\mathbb{C}}\) be a domain such that its boundary contains at least two points. The set \(\mathrm{Ann}(\Omega)\) is the set of concentric annuli \(A=A(z_0;r,R):=\{ z\in \mathbb{C} \, : \, r<|z-z_0|<R\}\) such that \(A(z_0;r,R) \subset \Omega\) with \(0<r<R<\infty\), centers \(z_0 \in \partial \Omega\) and every annulus \(A(z_0;r,R)\) separates the boundary of the domain \(\Omega\). If \(mathrm{Ann}(\Omega) =\emptyset\), then we take \(M_0(\Omega):=0\). If \(mathrm{Ann}(\Omega) \not=\emptyset\), then we take \(M_0(\Omega):= \sup_{A\in mathrm{Ann}(\Omega)} \frac{1}{2\pi} \log \frac Rr\). This definition can be extend for \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n\), \(n\geq 3\). The first few problems are related to the case when \(n = 2\). Problem 1. Prove that \(c_2(2,\Omega) \leq \frac 14\) for every domain \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{C}, \Omega \not= \mathbb{C}\). Problem 2. Describe geometrically the family of non-convex domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{C}, \Omega \not= \mathbb{C}\), such that \(c_2(2,\Omega) = \frac 14\). Problem 3. Find the segment \([A_1,A_2]\) of variation of constants \(c_2(2,\Omega)\) for simply connected domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{C}, \Omega \not= \mathbb{C}\). Problem 4. In geometrical terms describe all extremal domains which appeared in the following statement: Suppose that \(1\leq p <\infty\) and \(2<s<\infty\). Let \(\Omega \) be an open proper subset of \(\mathbb{C}\). Then for any real valued function \(u\in C_0^1(\Omega)\) \[ \int \int_{\Omega} \frac{|\nabla u(z)|^p}{\rho^{s-p}(z,\Omega)}dx \, dy\geq \left(\frac{s-2}{p}\right)^p \int \int_{\Omega}\frac{|u(z)|^p}{\rho^s(z,\Omega)} dx\, dy. \] There exist domains \(\Omega'\) such that \(c_p(s,\Omega')=\left(\frac{s-2}{p}\right)^p\). Problem 5. Prove or disprove the following assertion: for every value \(m\in \mathbb{Z} \backslash \{1,2 \} \) \( M_0(\Omega) < \infty \mbox{ iff } C_2(2m,\Omega)>0\) over the set of all domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{C}\). Here, \(C_2(s,\Omega)\) is the sharp constant from the Rellich type inequality: \[ \int \int_{\Omega} \frac{|\nabla u(z)|^2}{\rho^{s-4}(z,\Omega)}dx \, dy\geq C_2(s,\Omega) \int \int_{\Omega}\frac{|u(z)|^2}{\rho^s(z,\Omega)} dx\, dy. \] Problem 6. In terms of Euclidean geometry describe the set of all hyperbolic type domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{C}\) such that \(c_2^*(2,\Omega) >0\). The set is a domain of hyperbolic type if its boundary contains at least three points and in such domain \(R\) is the hyperbolic radius. The constant \(c_p^*(2,\Omega) >0\) is the sharp constant in inequality \[ \int \int_{\Omega} \frac{|\nabla u(z)|^p}{R^{2-p}(z,\Omega)}dx \, dy\geq c_p^*(2,\Omega) \int \int_{\Omega}\frac{|u(z)|^p}{R^2(z,\Omega)} dx\, dy. \] Problem 7. Using the radius \(R(z,\Omega)\) and the distance \(\rho(z,\Omega)\) construct new integral inequalities that are universal in the sense to be valid with a positive constant on every hyperbolic type domain \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{C}\). The following results and problems involve domains in \(\mathbb{R}^n\), \(n\geq 2\). Problem 8. Suppose that \(n\geq 3\), \(p\in [1,\infty )\). Prove that the constant \(c_p(2,\Omega) \leq \frac{(n-2)^p}{p^p}\) for all domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n\), \(\Omega \not= \mathbb{R}^n\). Problem 9. Suppose that \(n\geq 3\). Describe geometrically the family of non-convex domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n\), \(\Omega \not= \mathbb{R}^n\), such that \(c_2(2,\Omega)=\frac 14\). Problem 10. Suppose that \(n\geq 3\), \(p\in [1,\infty )\), \(n<s<\infty\), \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n\) is a domain having at least two boundary points. Is it true the following assertion: the condition \(M_0(\Omega) < \infty\) implies strict inequality \(c_p(s,\Omega) > \left(\frac{s-n}{p}\right)^p\)? Problem 11. Suppose that \(n\geq 2\), \(p\in [1,\infty )\), \(s \in (-\infty, 1]\). Prove that \(c_p(s,\Omega) =0\) for any bounded domain \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n\). Problem 12. Prove that among all \(n\)-dimensional domains with given inradius \(\rho(\Omega):=\sup_{x\in \Omega} \rho(x,\Omega)\) the maximum of the best Brezis-Marcus constants \(\lambda\) in \[ \int_{\Omega} |\nabla u(x)|^2 dx \geq \frac 14 \int_{\Omega} \frac{|u(x)|^2}{\rho^2(x,\Omega)} dx + \lambda \int_{\Omega} |u(x)|^2 dx \] is presented by \(B_n\), where \(B_n\) is an \(n\)-dimensional ball of radius \(\rho(\Omega)\). Problem 13. Suppose that \(n\geq 2\) and parameters \(p,q\in [1,\infty )\), \(s, \alpha \in \mathbb{R}\) are fixed numbers. In terms of Euclidean geometry describe non-trivial families of domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n\), \(\Omega \not= \mathbb{R}^n\), such that \(c_{pq}(s,\alpha, \Omega) >0\), where \(c_{pq}(s,\alpha, \Omega)\) is the sharp constant in inequality \[ \left(\int_{\Omega} \frac{|\nabla u(x)|^p}{\rho^{\alpha}(x,\Omega)}dx\right)^{1/p} \geq c_{pq}(s,\alpha, \Omega) \left( \int_{\Omega}\frac{|u(x)|^q}{\rho^s(x,\Omega)} dx \right)^{1/q}. \] Problem 14. Let \(n\geq 2\). In terms of Euclidean geometry describe all domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n\), such that \[ \rho(\Omega) < \infty \Rightarrow \lambda_1(\Omega) >0. \] Problem 15. Suppose that \(n, m\geq 2\), \(s \in \mathbb{R}\), \(s\not= 2m\). In terms of Euclidean geometry describe non-trivial families of domains \(\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^n\), such that \(A_2^{(m)}(s,\Omega)>0\), where the constant \(A_2^{(m)}(s,\Omega)\) is chosen to be maximum possible in the inequality \[ \int_{\Omega} \frac{|\Delta^{m/2} u(x)|^2}{\rho^{s-2m}(x,\Omega)}dx \geq A_2^{(m)}(s,\Omega) \int_{\Omega}\frac{|u(x)|^2}{\rho^s(x,\Omega)} dx. \]