Layer potentials for general linear elliptic systems

In this paper we construct layer potentials for elliptic differential operators using the Lax-Milgram theorem, without recourse to the fundamental solution; this allows layer potentials to be constructed in very general settings. We then generalize several well known properties of layer potentials for harmonic and second order equations, in particular the Green's formula, jump relations, adjoint relations, and Verchota's equivalence between well-posedness of boundary value problems and invertibility of layer potentials.Comment: 20 page

The Dirichlet problem for higher order equations in composition form

The present paper commences the study of higher order differential equations in composition form. Specifically, we consider the equation Lu=\Div B^*\nabla(a\Div A\nabla u)=0, where A and B are elliptic matrices with complex-valued bounded measurable coefficients and a is an accretive function. Elliptic operators of this type naturally arise, for instance, via a pull-back of the bilaplacian \Delta^2 from a Lipschitz domain to the upper half-space. More generally, this form is preserved under a Lipschitz change of variables, contrary to the case of divergence-form fourth order differential equations. We establish well-posedness of the Dirichlet problem for the equation Lu=0, with boundary data in L^2, and with optimal estimates in terms of nontangential maximal functions and square functions.Comment: 51 page

The Neumann problem for higher order elliptic equations with symmetric coefficients

In this paper we establish well posedness of the Neumann problem with boundary data in $L^2$ or the Sobolev space $\dot W^2_{-1}$, in the half space, for linear elliptic differential operators with coefficients that are constant in the vertical direction and in addition are self adjoint. This generalizes the well known well-posedness result of the second order case and is based on a higher order and one sided version of the classic Rellich identity, and is the first known well posedness result for a higher order operator with rough variable coefficients and boundary data in a Lebesgue or Sobolev space.Comment: 35 page