Vitushkin's conjecture for removable sets (Q986657)

A compact set \(K\subset\mathbb C\) is called removable if for each open set \(U\) containing \(K\), each function \(f\) analytic and bounded on \(U\setminus K\) admits an analytic extension to \(U\). The Painlevé problem consists in a geometric description of the removable sets. A special case of Painlevé's problem is the Vitushkin conjecture which states that a compact set with finite linear Hausdorff measure is removable if and only if it intersects every rectifiable curve in a set of zero arclength measure. The forward implication of Vitushkin's conjecture is equivalent to the earlier Denjoy conjecture that a compact subset of a rectifiable curve with positive arclength measure is non-removable. The aim of the book is to present a complete proof of the recent affirmative solution to the Vitushkin conjecture, which was preceded by a proof of the Denjoy conjecture. Chapter 1 ``Removable sets and analytic capacity'' presents and proves some elementary standard results about the notions of analytic capacity, \(\gamma(K)\), and removability of a compact set \(K\). The set \(K\) is removable if and only if \(\gamma(K)=0\). Chapter 2 ``Removable sets and Hausdorff measure'' introduces the notions of the \(s\)-dimensional Hausdorff measure, \(\mathcal H^s\), and the Hausdorff measure, \(\dim_{\mathcal H}\). A result of Painlevé implies that a compact set \(K\) is removable whenever \(\dim_{\mathcal H}(K)<1\), and a result of Frostman implies that \(K\) is non-removable whenever \(\dim_{\mathcal H}(K)>1\). So the problem is reduced to the examination of the case \(\dim_{\mathcal H}(K)=1\). In Chapter 3 ``Garabedian duality for hole-punch domains'', a special case of Garabedian duality is proved, which is needed for the proof of the Denjoy conjecture. Garabedian duality states that the two capacities \(L^{\infty}\) and \(L^2\) are related so that they vanish for the same sets. Thus it is possible to use Hilbert space methods to study an \(L^{\infty}\) problem. Chapter 4 ``Melnikov and Verdera's solution to the Denjoy conjecture'' studies the notion of the Melnikov curvature of a measure and the notion of a measure with linear growth. Garabedian duality is used to prove Melnikov's lower capacity estimate. Given a compact set supporting a nontrivial positive Borel measure with finite Melnikov curvature and linear growth, this estimate gives a positive lower bound for the analytic capacity of the set in terms of the Melnikov curvature, the linear growth bound and the mass of the measure. The Melnikov-Verdera result shows that the Lipschitz graph supports many such measures. Both these results prove the Denjoy conjecture. Chapter 5 ``Some measure theory'' is devoted to the measure theory needed furthermore. Besides, the author widens the measure theory from the book of Rudin. Chapter 6 ``A solution to Vitushkin's conjecture modulo two difficult results'' contains a proof of Vitushkin's conjecture omitting the proofs of two difficult results left for the next chapters. This is a major recent accomplishment of modern complex analysis. Chapters 7--8 occupy roughly one half of the book. Chapter 7 ``The \(T(b)\) theorem of Nazarov, Treil and Volberg'' proves the first difficult result, a \(T(b)\) theorem of Nazarov, Treil and Volberg for measures which need not satisfy a doubling condition. The proof is rather complicated. Chapter 8 ``The curvature theorem of David and Léger'' proves the second difficult result, a curvature theorem for arbitrary measures due to David and Léger. This proof is also of significant complexity. Vitushkin's conjecture is not all of the Painlevé problem. After the end of Chapter 8, the Painlevé problem is reduced to the compact sets \(K\) for which \(\dim_{\mathcal H}(K)=1\) and \(\mathcal H^1(K)=\infty\). A postscript following Chapter 8 characterizes these sets. First, the postscript deals with the extension of Vitushkin's conjecture to compact sets that are \(\sigma\)-finite for \(\mathcal H^1\). Second, there is a discussion of Melnikov's conjecture that the Melnikov lower capacity estimate is reversible. Both of these matters are solved affirmatively with the aid of Tolsa's theorem. The author indicates the books of Rogers, Falconer, Mattila, Marshall, Verdera, David, Tolsa, Pajot, and Garnett to complete the bibliography given in the book. The book does not contain any figure, only verbal descriptions precise enough to reconstruct the excluded figure are given. The book is a guide for graduate students and a helpful survey for experts.