The raising steps method: applications to the \(\bar{\partial}\) equation in Stein manifolds (Q282792)

The paper focuses on (the gain in) \(L^p\) regularity for solutions to the \(\bar{\partial}\) problem on strictly pseudoconvex domains (see [\textit{S. G. Krantz}, Math. Ann. 219, 233--260 (1976; Zbl 0303.35059)] for \((p,1)\)-forms on domains in \(\mathbb{C}^n\)). The situation for this paper is that of a smooth strictly pseudoconvex domain in a Stein manifold. Estimates for the solution \(u\) in the equation \(\bar{\partial}u=f\), with \(f\) \(\bar{\partial}\)-closed, of the form \(\|u\|_{L^s} \lesssim \|f\|_{L^r}\) are obtained. It is shown that the estimates hold for \(s>r\) along with a relation giving possible values which \(s\) can be taken. The gain of regularity is accomplished via the ``raising steps'' method (Theorem 2.1). It refers to a method of solving the \(\bar{\partial}\) problem on subsets (making up a covering) of the strictly pseudoconvex domain, with an increase in \(L^p\) regularity and then using the existence of a global solution, which preserves \(L^p\) regularity (i.e., \(\bar{\partial}u=f\) can be solved with estimates \(\|u\|_{L^r} \lesssim \|f\|_{L^r}\)) to show the gain of regularity on the smaller subsets leads in fact to the same gain of regularity globally. Exact \(L^p\)-regularity was shown in [\textit{N. Kerzman}, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 24, 301--379 (1971; Zbl 0217.13202)], in which a global solution was also constructed from local ones.