Regularity for quasilinear equations on degenerate singular sets

Abstract

We prove a new, universal gradient continuity estimate for solutions to quasilinear equations with varying coefficients at points on its critical singular set of degeneracy $S(u) := \{X : D u(X) = 0 \}$. Our main Theorem reveals that along $S(u)$, $u$ is asymptotically as regular as solutions to constant coefficient equations. In particular, along the critical set $S(u)$, $Du$ enjoys a modulus of continuity much superior than the, possibly low, continuity feature of the coefficients. Our main, leading result fosters a new understanding on smoothness properties of solutions to degenerate or singular equations, beyond typical elliptic regularity estimates, precisely where the diffusion attributes of the equation collapse.