Some new characterizations of Sobolev spaces (Q2499256)

The main theorem says that a function \(g\in L^p({\mathbb R}^N)\), \(1<p<\infty\), belongs to the Sobolev space \(W^{1,p}({\mathbb R}^N)\) iff \[ \sup_{0<\delta<1} \int\int_{\{| g(x)-g(y)| >\delta\}}\frac{\delta^p}{| x-y| ^{N+p}}\,dx\, dy \,<\infty . \] Moreover, the above integral tends to \(\frac 1 p K_{N,p} \int_{{\mathbb R}^N} | \nabla g(x)| ^p \,dx\) if \(\delta\rightarrow 0\). Here, \(K_{N,p}\) is a positive constant depending on \(N\) and \(p\) and given by an explicit formula. An analogous result is proved for functions defined on a bounded domain in \({\mathbb R}^N\). The above theorems are related to the characterization of the Sobolev spaces \(W^{1,p}({\mathbb R}^N)\) given by \textit{J.\,Bourgain, H.\,Brezis} and \textit{P.\,Mironescu} [in: Another look at Sobolev spaces. Optimal control and partial differential equations. Amsterdam: IOS Press; Tokyo: Ohmsha, 439--455 (2001; Zbl 1103.46310)]. Some generalized form of the above theorem is also given. If \(p=1\), then a similar characterization holds for the space \(BV({\mathbb R}^N)\). Some weaker version of the above assumption on \(g\) can be found in [\textit{J.~Bourgain} and the author, C.~R., Math., Acad.\ Sci.\ Paris 343, No.\,2, 75--80 (2006; Zbl 1109.46034), reviewed above].