Estimates of the best Sobolev constant of the embedding of $BV(\Omega)$ into $L^1(\partial\Omega)$ and related shape optimization problems

TL;DR

This paper derives volume-independent estimates for the optimal Sobolev trace constant in BV spaces, extends previous results to the case p=1, and explores related shape optimization problems including extremals and shape derivatives.

Contribution

It generalizes Sobolev trace inequality estimates to BV spaces for p=1, proves existence of extremals, and analyzes shape derivatives in optimization problems.

Findings

Established volume-independent bounds for the Sobolev trace constant.

Proved existence of extremal functions for the embedding.

Identified the ball of radius n as a critical shape for volume-preserving deformations.

Abstract

In this paper we find estimates for the optimal constant in the critical Sobolev trace inequality $\lambda_1(\Omega)\|u\|_{L^1(\partial\Omega)} \le \|u\|_{W^{1,1}(\Omega)}$ that are independent of $\Omega$. This estimates generalize those of \cite{BS} concerning the $p$-Laplacian to the case $p=1$. We apply our results to prove existence of an extremal for this embedding. We then study an optimal design problem related to $\lambda_1$, and eventually compute the shape derivative of the functional $\Omega\to\lambda_1(\Omega)$. As a consequence, we obtain that a ball of $\R^n$ of radius $n$ is critical for volume-preserving deformations.