Intrinsic Lipschitz graphs and vertical $\beta$-numbers in the Heisenberg group

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and study some basic concepts of quantitative rectifiability in the first Heisenberg group $\mathbb{H}$. In particular, we aim to demonstrate that new phenomena arise compared to the Euclidean theory, founded by G. David and S. Semmes in the 90's. The theory in $\mathbb{H}$ has an apparent connection to certain nonlinear PDEs, which do not play a role with similar questions in ${\mathbb{R}}^3$. Our main object of study are the intrinsic Lipschitz graphs in $\mathbb{H}$, introduced by B. Franchi, R. Serapioni and F. Serra Cassano in 2006. We claim that these $3$-dimensional sets in $\mathbb{H}$, if any, deserve to be called quantitatively $3$-rectifiable. Our main result is that the intrinsic Lipschitz graphs satisfy a weak geometric lemma with respect to vertical $\beta$-numbers. Conversely, extending a result of David and Semmes from ${\mathbb{R}}^n$, we prove that a $3$-Ahlfors-David regular subset in $\mathbb{H}$, which satisfies the weak geometric lemma and has big vertical projections, necessarily has big pieces of intrinsic Lipschitz graphs.

56 pages, one figure. v3: incorporated referee suggestions, to appear in Amer. J. Math