Continuous-time sparse domination

Abstract: We develop the self similarity argument known as sparse domination in an abstract martingale setting, using a continuous time parameter. With this method, we prove a sharp weighted L^p estimate for the maximal operator Y^* of Y with respect to X. Here Y and X are uniformly integrable c`adll`ag Hilbert space valued martingales and Y differentially subordinate to X via the square bracket process. We also present a second, very simple proof of the special case Y=X. In this generality, notably including processes with jumps, the special case Y = X addresses a question raised in the late 70s by Bonami--L\'epingle.