The obstacle problem for a higher order fractional Laplacian (Q6137580)

In this paper under review, the authors study the obstacle problem for the higher order fractional Laplacian \((-\Delta)^s\) with \(s\in (1,2)\) in \(\mathbb{R}^n\). Such problem is equivalent to the thin obstacle problem for the weighted biharmonic operator \(\Delta^2_b\) in \(\mathbb{R}^{n+1}_+\), where \(\Delta_b:=y^{-b}\nabla\cdot(y^b\nabla )\), \(b=3-2s\in (-1,1)\), using an extension technique. The authors establish the existence and uniqueness of the weak solution in the sense of variational inequalities. The main results are the local \(C^{1,1}\) Hölder regularity and \(H^{1+s}(\mathbb{R}^n)\) Sobolev regularity of the weak solutions. They also derive the regularity of solutions to the extension problem. This generalizes Schild's work for \(b=0\) [\textit{B. Schild}, Ann. Sc. Norm. Super. Pisa, Cl. Sci. 11, 87--122 (1984; Zbl 0554.49003)]. The proofs of the regularity results are based on techniques in potential theory, such as a continuity principle and a maximum principle, inspired by the work of Schild for the polyharmonic case.