On the continuity of superposition operators in the space of functions of bounded variation (Q2407703)

Given a function \(f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}\), the (autonomous) superposition operator \(F\) generated by \(f\) is defined by \(F(x)= f\circ x\), where \(x: [0,1]\to\mathbb{R}\) runs over some function space \(X\). A basic problem is to find a condition on \(f\), both necessary and sufficient, under which \(F\) maps \(X\) into itself. For example, for \(X= C[0,1]\) this condition is \(f\in C(\mathbb{R})\), while for \(X= \text{Lip}[0,1]\) or \(X= \text{BV}[0,1]\) it is \(f\in\text{Lip}_{\text{loc}}(\mathbb{R})\). Of course, it is also important to have criteria for the boundedness or continuity of \(F\) in \(X\). Boundedness is guaranteed often ``for free'', while continuity may be a delicate issue. Thus, for \(X= C[0,1]\) the operator is always continuous whenever \(f\) is continuous. In \(X= \text{Lip}[0,1]\), the operator \(F\) is always bounded, but for \(f(u):=\min\{|u|,1\}\) it is not continuous, as was shown by \textit{M. Z. Berkolajko} in a local Russian journal in 1969. Interestingly, \textit{M. Goebel} and \textit{F. Sachweh} [Z. Anal. Anwend. 18, No. 2, 205--229 (1999; Zbl 0941.47053)] proved that \(f\in C^1(\mathbb{R})\) is both necessary and sufficient for the continuity of \(F\) in \(\text{Lip}[0,1]\). The continuity problem for \(F\) in \(\text{BV}[0,1]\) is surprisingly hard, and it remained open for many decades. \textit{A. P. Morse} [Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 41, 48--83 (1937; Zbl 0016.10502)] claimed that the condition \(F(\text{BV})\subseteq\text{BV}\) implies the continuity of \(F\). However, the proof is 30 pages long and extremely technical, and its correctness is more than doubtful. It is the author's merit to prove this in the paper under review with a much shorter, though still quite technical, proof. We remark that meanwhile a very short and elegant alternative proof has been given by \textit{S. Reinwand} [Real Anal. Exch. 45, No. 1, 173--204 (2020; Zbl 1440.26004)].