On Lipschitz extension from finite subsets

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that Lipschitz extension constants can grow at least as fast as the square root of the logarithm of the number of points, and provides a quantitative version of Minty's extension theorem for Hölder functions.

Contribution

It constructs metric spaces and functions that show lower bounds on Lipschitz extension constants, improving previous bounds and proposing a conjecture that links to longstanding open problems.

Findings

Lipschitz extension constants can grow as rac{\u221a{\, ext{log} }}

Provides a quantitative extension theorem for lpha-Hf6lder functions

Proposes a conjecture connecting to major open questions in nonlinear functional analysis.

Abstract

We prove that for every $n\in \mathbb{N}$ there exists a metric space $(X,d_X)$, an $n$-point subset $S\subseteq X$, a Banach space $(Z,\|\cdot\|_Z)$ and a $1$-Lipschitz function $f:S\to Z$ such that the Lipschitz constant of every function $F:X\to Z$ that extends $f$ is at least a constant multiple of $\sqrt{\log n}$. This improves a bound of Johnson and Lindenstrauss. We also obtain the following quantitative counterpart to a classical extension theorem of Minty. For every $\alpha\in (1/2,1]$ and $n\in \mathbb{N}$ there exists a metric space $(X,d_X)$, an $n$-point subset $S\subseteq X$ and a function $f:S\to \ell_2$ that is $\alpha$-H\"older with constant $1$, yet the $\alpha$-H\"older constant of any $F:X\to \ell_2$ that extends $f$ satisfies $$ \|F\|_{\mathrm{Lip}(\alpha)}\gtrsim (\log n)^{\frac{2\alpha-1}{4\alpha}}+\left(\frac{\log n}{\log\log n}\right)^{\alpha^2-\frac12}. $$ We formulate a conjecture whose positive solution would strengthen Ball's nonlinear Maurey extension theorem, serving as a far-reaching nonlinear version of a theorem of K\"onig, Retherford and Tomczak-Jaegermann. We explain how this conjecture would imply as special cases answers to longstanding open questions of Johnson and Lindenstrauss and Kalton.