Integral representation of local left-invariant functionals in Carnot groups (Q2300574)

In the paper, the authors deal with a class of local functionals \(F:L^p_{\mathrm{loc}}(\mathbb{G})\times\mathcal{A}_0 \to \mathbf{R}\), where \(\mathbb{G}\) denotes a step \(k\) Carnot group and \(\mathcal{A}_0\) the class of open bounded subsets of \(\mathbb{G}\). Under standard growth conditions and assuming the left-invariance of the functionals, in according with Definition 3.5, they provide an integral representation of F in terms of \[F(u,A) = \int_A f(\nabla_{\mathbb{G}}u(x)) \, dx\tag{\(\ast\)} \] for any \(u\in L^p_{\mathrm{loc}}(\mathbb{G})\) for any \(A\in\mathcal{A}_0\) such that \(u|_A\in W^{1,1}_{\mathbb{G},\mathrm{loc}}(\mathbb{G})\), \(1 \leqslant p < +\infty\), where \(\nabla_\mathbb{G}u\) denotes the horizontal gradient of \(u\). In the last part of the paper they also provide a \(\Gamma\)-compactness theorem for any \(1< p < +\infty\), giving a generalization of well-known results of the classical (Euclidean) setting. In this last theorem, they prove that the left-invariance property, asked on any element of the starting sequence of functionals, is inherited by the \(\Gamma\)-limit, that can be still represented as in \((\ast)\). \noindent The techniques adopted in the paper rely on standard arguments and on a recent paper of the first author et al. [J. Math. Pures Appl. (9) 139, 109--142 (2020; Zbl 1440.49016)].