Lower Semi-Continuity for $\mathcal A$-Quasiconvex Functionals under Convex Restrictions

Abstract

We show weak lower semi-continuity of functionals assuming the new notion of a "convexly constrained" $\mathcal A$-quasiconvex integrand. We assume $\mathcal A$-quasiconvexity only for functions defined on a set $K$ which is convex. Assuming this and sufficient integrability of the sequence we show that the functional is still (sequentially) weakly lower semi-continuous along weakly convergent "convexly constrained" $\mathcal A$-free sequences. In a motivating example, the integrand is $-\det^{\frac{1}{d-1}}$ and the convex constraint is positive semi-definiteness of a matrix field.