Spherical Means of Beppo Levi Functions (Q4024465)

Let \(U_ \alpha f\) be a Riesz \(\alpha\)-potential on \(\mathbb{R}^ n\), that is \[ U_ \alpha f(x)=\int\| x-y\|^{\alpha-n} f(y)dy, \] where \(0<\alpha<n\) and \(f\) is a measurable function on \(\mathbb{R}^ n\) such that \(U_ \alpha| f|\not\equiv+\infty\). For \(q>0\), let \(S_ q(U_ \alpha f,r)\) denote the \(q\)th root of the mean value of \(| U_ \alpha f|^ q\) over the sphere of radius \(r\) centred at the origin of \(\mathbb{R}^ n\). The behaviour of \(S_ q(U_ \alpha f,r)\) for large values of \(r\) is studied; in particular, under a certain integrability condition on \(f\), functions \(\kappa(r)\) are determined such that \((\kappa(r))^{-1} S_ q(U_ \alpha f,r)\) has limit (or, in some cases, limit inferior) 0 as \(r\to+\infty\). Corresponding results are obtained for BLD functions (Beppo Levi functions satisfying a quasi continuity hypothesis). The author obtains the results for BLD functions by first showing that such functions have representations in terms of potentials with respect to certain modified kernels. The latter part of the paper concerns functions on the unit open ball \(B\) of \(\mathbb{R}^ n\). If \(u\) is a measurable function on \(B\), \(\xi\in\partial B\), \(0<r<2\) and \(q>0\), let \(S_ q(u,\xi,r)\) denote the \(q\)th mean value of \(| u|\) over \(B\cap S(\xi,r)\), where \(S(\xi,r)\) is the sphere of centre \(\xi\) and radius \(r\). Typical results assert that for a Riesz potential or BLD function \(u\), the mean \(S_ q(u,\xi,r)\) grows more slowly than some prescribed function of \(r\) as \(r\to 0+\) except for a set of \(\xi\) which is small in terms of Hausdorff measure.