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Let $f\in W_0^{1,p}(U)$, for $U$ a bounded domain and $p < n/(n-1)$. I am trying to prove that there is an inequality of the form

$\|f\|_{W^{1,p}} \leq C \int_{\Omega} |\Delta f| $

where $\Delta$ is the Laplacian. I tried applying the Sobolev embedding theorem, followed by the inequality

$\|D^2 f\|_p \leq C \|\Delta f\|_p$

but this does not hold for $p = 1$. I also tried using elliptic estimates, also to no avail. Does anyone have any suggestions?

EDIT: Perhaps it is possible to deduce this from the $L^p$ inequality

$\|D^2 f\|_{L^p} \leq C \|\Delta f\|_{L^p}$

for $u\in W_0^{2,p}(\Omega)$, $1 < p < \infty$?

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    Oh, sorry, my mistake. I have corrected the question to state that $f\in W_0^{1,p}(\Omega)$ for p < n/(n-1).2012-11-11

2 Answers 2

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I don't think this estimate is correct. Consider the case where $U$ is the unit disk $U = B_1(0)$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$ and set $f_\epsilon(x) = \log \frac{|x| + \epsilon}{ 1 + \epsilon}$ for $\epsilon > 0$. These functions all vanish on the boundary of $U$.

Setting $r = |x|$, one computes $\nabla f_\epsilon(x) = \frac{x}{r(r+\epsilon)}$ and $\Delta f_\epsilon(x) = \frac{\epsilon}{r(r+\epsilon)^2}$. Using polar coordinates, it is straight forward to show that $\|\Delta f_\epsilon\|_{L^1}$ remains bounded but $\|f_\epsilon\|_{W^{1,2}} \sim \sqrt{\log |\epsilon|} $ as $\epsilon \to 0$.

$L^p$ theory for elliptic equations does not extend to the case $p = 1$.

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    Can someone give a more detailed explanation of how to derive this estimate on an arbitrary domain (not all of $\mathbb R^n$)?2012-11-11
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The domain (variously called $U$ and $\Omega$ in the question) is not very important here. Since $f\in W^{1,p}_0(U)$, the extension of $f$ by zero belongs to $W^{1,p}_0(\mathbb R^n)$. Let $k(x)=c_n|x|^{2-n}$ be the fundamental solution of $\Delta$ on $\mathbb R^n$. The function $g=\Delta f$ belongs to $L^1(\mathbb R^n)$ by assumption. Therefore, the convolution $g*k$ vanishes at infinity. Since $f-g*k$ is harmonic, we have $f=g*k$.

Next, differentiation $\nabla f = g*(\nabla k)$ is legitimate because $\nabla k$ is also an integrable kernel (we do not get into singular integrals here). Most importantly, $|\nabla k|\approx |x|^{1-n}\in L^p$ in the specified range of $p$. Young's inequality for convolution yields $\|\nabla f\|_p\le \|g\|_1 \|\nabla k\|_p$. $\quad\Box$