\(C^ 2\) a priori estimates for degenerate Monge-Ampère equations (Q677551)

The author studies the degenerate case of the Dirichlet problem for the Monge-Ampère equation \[ \det(D^2u)= f\geq 0\quad\text{in }\Omega\subset\mathbb R^n,\quad u|_{\partial\Omega}=\phi. \] \(C^{1,1}\)-regularity and estimates are known in the case \(f\equiv 0\) [see \textit{N. S. Trudinger} and \textit{J. Urbas}, Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 30, 321--334 (1984; Zbl 0557.35054)] or if \(f= g^n\) with some \(C^{1,1}\)-function \(g\) [see \textit{L. Caffarelli}, \textit{J. J. Kohn}, \textit{L. Nirenberg} and \textit{J. Spruck}, Commun. Pure Appl. Math. 38, 209--252 (1985; Zbl 0598.35048)]. The author gives a new sufficient condition for \(f\), which allows him to prove \(C^{1,1}\)-estimates in the case \(\phi=0\). This condition is fulfilled e.g. for \(f=|g|\), \(g\in C^{1,1}\) if \(n=2\), or \(f\in C^{3,1}\) if \(n=3\). Also a nonvanishing boundary value is allowed, if. e.g. \(f\) is nondegenerate near the boundary. The technique is further extended to the equation of prescribed Gaussian curvature.