Generic regularity of free boundaries for the obstacle problem (Q827018)

In this very interesting paper the authors establish the generic regularity of free boundaries for the obstacle problem in \(\mathbb{R}^n\). Classical results of Caffarelli guarantee that the free boundary is \(C^{\infty}\) outside of a set of singular points, but examples show that such set could be in general \((n-1)\)-dimensional. In this paper, the authors show that, generically, the singular set has zero \(\mathcal{H}^{n-4}\) measure. Therefore, for \(n\le 4\), the free boundary is generically a \(C^{\infty}\) manifold, solving a conjecture of Schaeffer. Such conjecture stated that generically, free boundaries in the obstacle problem have no singular points. To describe the results proved in more detail, consider the obstacle problem \[ \Delta u= \chi_{\{u>0\}}, \ \ \ u\ge 0 \ \ \text{ in } \Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n. \] The authors are able to prove Schaeffer's conjecture in \(\mathbb{R}^3\) and \(\mathbb{R}^4\). To do so, they consider a monotone family of solutions \(\{u^t\}_{t\in (-1,1)}\) to the obstacle problem in \(B_1\) satisfying a ``uniform monotonicity'' condition. Such condition rules out the existence of regions that remain stationary as \(t\) increases. Assuming \((-1,1)\ni t\mapsto u^t\Big|_{\partial B_1}\in L^{\infty}(\partial B_1)\) is continuous with respect to \(t\), the authors prove that \(\mathcal{H}^{n-4}(\Sigma^t)=0\) for a.e. \(t\in (-1,1)\). Here \(\Sigma^t\) is the set of singular points for \(u^t\). This, in particular, establishes Schaeffer's conjecture for \(n\le 4\). The authors also prove an analogous result to solutions to the Hele-Shaw flow. A key ingredient in the proof of their main result is a fine understanding of the singular points. In particular, the authors establish a very interesting new higher order expansion at most singular points for monotone families of solutions to the obstacle problem.