Sharp embedding results and geometric inequalities for H\"{o}rmander vector fields

Abstract

Let $U$ be a connected open subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$, and let $X=(X_1,X_{2},\ldots,X_m)$ be a system of H\"{o}rmander vector fields defined on $U$. This paper addresses sharp embedding results and geometric inequalities in the generalized Sobolev space $\mathcal{W}_{X,0}^{k,p}(\Omega)$, where $\Omega\subset\subset U$ is a general open bounded subset of $U$. By employing Rothschild-Stein's lifting technique and saturation method, we prove the representation formula for smooth functions with compact support in $\Omega$. Combining this representation formula with weighted weak-$L^p$ estimates, we derive sharp Sobolev inequalities on $\mathcal{W}_{X,0}^{k,p}(\Omega)$, where the critical Sobolev exponent depends on the generalized M\'{e}tivier index. As applications of these sharp Sobolev inequalities, we establish the isoperimetric inequality, logarithmic Sobolev inequalities, Rellich-Kondrachov compact embedding theorem, Gagliardo-Nirenberg inequality, Nash inequality, and Moser-Trudinger inequality in the context of general H\"{o}rmander vector fields.