No label defined (Q4241771)

Let \(X\) be a topological space with a non-negative Borel measure \(\mu\), endowed further with a quasi-metric. A family \(\Omega\) of measurable sets in \(X\times(0,\infty)\) is called a family of approach regions if \((x,0)\in\overline\Omega_x\) for all \(x\in X\). The maximal operator related to \(\Omega\) is defined by \[ (M_\Omega f)(x)=\sup_{(y,t)\in\Omega_x}\frac{1}{\mu(B(y,t))} \int_{B(y,t)}|f(z)|d\mu(z). \] The authors present a characterization of the \((p,p)\)-weak-type inequalities for \(M_\Omega\) in terms of \(A_p\) conditions ``intersected'' with an extra property of ``being a Carleson measure'', easier than the previously known characterizations. This result is applied to the description of the shape of approach regions. Several equivalent statements are proved, in particular it follows that the equivalence of weighted inequalities involving \(M_\Omega\) to those involving the classical Hardy-Littlewood maximal operator completely determines the geometry of \(\Omega\). The link between boundedness of maximal operators and geometry of \(\Omega\) is based on a special class of weights (``power weights''). The paper is written in the setting of homogeneous spaces which, as a further bonus to the new results, brings certain refinement of the results already known.