On the Hölder continuity of solutions of the Venttsel' elliptic problem (Q265988)

The very interesting paper under review deals with the following model Venttsel' problem \[ \begin{cases} -D_j(a^{ij}D_iu)=0, & x\in\Omega,\\ -\delta_j(\alpha^{ij}\delta_iu)+a^{ij}D_iu\nu_j=0, & x\in \Gamma\subset\partial\Omega. \end{cases} \] Here, \(\nu\) is the unit normal to \(\Gamma,\) \(D=(D_i)\) is the standard gradient, while \(\delta=(\delta_i)=(D_i-\nu_i\nu_jD_j)\) stands for the tangential gradient. The coefficients \(a^{ij}\) and \(\alpha^{ij}\) are measurable functions, satisfying the usual uniform ellipticity conditions. The authors prove Hölder continuity up to \(\Gamma\) for the weak solutions of the Venttsel' problem, with Hölder exponent depending only on the ellipticity constant and the space dimension. The application of the De Giorgi classical method involves certain difficulties, because of the fact that it is impossible to apply dilations of solutions since the summands in the boundary operator are of different degrees of homogeneity. To overcome these difficulties, the authors use a modification of the approach of \textit{Yu. A. Alkhutov} and \textit{V. V. Zhikov} [Dokl. Math. 63, No. 3, 368--373 (2001; Zbl 1090.35510); translation from Dokl. Akad. Nauk, Ross. Akad. Nauk 378, No. 5, 583--588 (2001)] where Hölder continuity for solutions of equations with high-contrast structure are obtained from oscillatory properties of the solutions. The authors show also that the Harnack inequality in its classical form does not hold for the problem studied.