The fractional maximal operator and fractional integrals on variable \(L^p\) spaces (Q925103)

Summary: We prove that if the exponent function \(p(\cdot)\) satisfies log-Hölder continuity conditions locally and at infinity, then the fractional maximal operator \(M_\alpha\), \(0 < \alpha < n\), maps \(L^{p(\cdot)}\) to \(L^{q(\cdot)}\), where \(\frac{1}{p(x)}-\frac{1}{q(x)}=\frac{\alpha}{n}\). We also prove a weak-type inequality corresponding to the weak \((1,n/(n-\alpha))\) inequality for \(M_\alpha\). We build upon earlier work on the Hardy-Littlewood maximal operator by \textit{D. Cruz-Uribe, A. Fiorenza} and \textit{C. J. Neugebauer} [Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn., Math. 28, No.~1, 223--238 (2003; Zbl 1037.42023)]. As a consequence of these results for \(M_\alpha\), we show that the fractional integral operator \(I_\alpha\) satisfies the same norm inequalities. These in turn yield a generalization of the Sobolev embedding theorem to variable \(L^p\) spaces.