We show that the differential inequality $\left|\Delta u\right|\le v\left|u\right|$ has the unique continuation property relative to the Sobolev space $H_{loc}^{2,1}\left(\Omega \right)$, $\Omega \subset R^n$, $n\le 3$, if $v$ satisfies the condition$$(K_n^{\mathrm{loc}})\underset{r\to 0}{lim}\underset{x\in K}{sup}{\int }_{|x-y|\<r}|x-y{|}^{2-n}v\left(y\right)dy=0$$for all compact $K\subset \Omega$, where if $n=2$, we replace $|x-y{|}^{2-n}$ by $-log|x-y|$. This resolves a conjecture of B. Simon on unique continuation for Schrödinger operators, $H=-\Delta +v$, in the case $n\le 3$. The proof uses Carleman’s approach together with the following pointwise inequality valid for all $N=0,1,2,...$ and any $u\in H_c^{2,1}({\mathbf{R}}^3-\left\{0\right\}),$$$...$$

Much of this paper will be concerned with the proof of the followingTheorem 1. Suppose d ≥ 3, r = max {d, (3d - 4)/2}. If V ∈ Llocr(Rd), then the differential inequality |Δu| ≤ V |∇u| has the strong unique continuation property in the following sense: If u belongs to the Sobolev space Wloc2,p and if |Δu| ≤ V |∇u| andlimR→0 R-N ∫|x| < R |∇u|p' = 0for all N then u is constant.

The study of $J$-holomorphic maps leads to the consideration of the inequations $|\frac{\partial u}{\partial \overline{z}}|\le C|u|$, and $|\frac{\partial u}{\partial \overline{z}}|\le ϵ|\frac{\partial u}{\partial z}|$. The first inequation is fairly easy to use. The second one, that is relevant to the case of rough structures, is more delicate. The case of $u$ vector valued is strikingly different from the scalar valued case. Unique continuation and isolated zeroes are the main topics under study. One of the results is that, in almost complex structures of Hölder class $\frac{1}{2}$, any $J$-holomorphic curve that is constant on a non-empty...