Unique continuation for a gradient inequality with $L^n$ potential

Abstract

We establish a unique continuation property for solutions of the differential inequality $|\nabla u|\leq V|u|$, where $V$ is locally $L^n$ integrable on a domain in $\mathbb R^n$. A stronger uniqueness result is obtained if in addition the solutions are locally Lipschitz. One application is a finite order vanishing property in the $L^2$ sense for the exponential of $W^{1,n}$ functions. We further discuss related results for the Cauchy-Riemann operator $\bar\partial$ and characterize the vanishing order for smooth extension of holomorphic functions across the boundary.