Constructive approximation on graded meshes for the integral fractional Laplacian

Abstract: We consider the homogeneous Dirichlet problem for the integral fractional Laplacian $(-\Delta)^s$. We prove optimal Sobolev regularity estimates in Lipschitz domains provided the solution is $C^s$ up to the boundary. We present the construction of graded bisection meshes by a greedy algorithm and derive quasi-optimal convergence rates for approximations to the solution of such a problem by continuous piecewise linear functions. The nonlinear Sobolev scale dictates the relation between regularity and approximability.