On rectifiable measures in Carnot groups: representation (Q2667170)

This paper deals with the theory of rectifiability in arbitrary Carnot groups, and in particular with the study of the notion of \(\mathcal{P}\)-rectifiable measure. First, the authors show that in arbitrary Carnot groups the natural \textit{infinitesimal} definition of rectifiabile measure, i.e., the definition given in terms of the existence of flat tangent measures, is equivalent to the global definition given in terms of coverings with intrinsically differentiable graphs, i.e., graphs with flat Hausdorff tangents. In general the authors do not have the latter equivalence if one asks the covering to be made of intrinsically Lipschitz graphs. Second, the authors show a geometric area formula for the centered Hausdorff measure restricted to intrinsically differentiable graphs in arbitrary Carnot groups. The latter formula extends and strengthens other area formulae obtained in the literature in the context of Carnot groups. As an application, the analysis allows one to prove the intrinsic \(C^1\)-rectifiability of almost all the preimages of a large class of Lipschitz functions between Carnot groups. In particular, from the latter result, the authors obtain that any geodesic sphere in a Carnot group equipped with an arbitrary left-invariant homogeneous distance is intrinsic \(C^1\)-rectifiable.