\(L^p\) regularity for Kohn's operator (Q862047)

This paper deals with the \(L^p\) regularity properties of Kohn's operator \(A= L\bar L+\bar Lf(|z|^2)L\), where \(L=\partial_z+ i\overline z\partial_t\), \(\overline L= \partial_{\overline z}- iz\partial_t\), \(z\in\mathbb{C}\), \(t\in\mathbb{R}\), \(f(x)= x^k g(x)\), \(g(x)> 0\) for \(x> 0\), \(g\in C^\infty\) and \(k\in\mathbb{N}\). The author announces the following theorem: The operator \(A\) loses \(k-1\) derivatives in \(L_p\) Sobolev spaces, \(1< p<\infty\). The case \(p= 2\) was investigated by J. J. Kohn. Moreover, the loss is optimal. The proof is exhibited in a simpler case.