Optimal regularity for the no-sign obstacle problem

Abstract: In this paper we prove the optimal $C^{1,1}(B_\frac12)$-regularity for a general obstacle type problem $$ \lap u = f\chi_{{u\neq 0}}\textup{in $B_1$}, $$ under the assumption that $f*N$ is $C^{1,1}(B_1)$, where $N$ is the Newtonian potential. This is the weakest assumption for which one can hope to get $C^{1,1}$-regularity. As a by-product of the $C^{1,1}$-regularity we are able to prove that, under a standard thickness assumption on the zero set close to a free boundary point $x^0$, the free boundary is locally a $C^1$-graph close to $x^0$, provided $f$ is Dini. This completely settles the question of the optimal regularity of this problem, that has been under much attention during the last two decades.