Gradient estimates for the fractional $p$-Laplacian in the superquadratic regime

Abstract

We establish gradient potential estimates for solutions obtained as limits of approximations (SOLA) to the fractional $p$-Laplace equation with finite signed Radon measure data. Under the assumptions $n\ge2$, $p>2$, $0p-1$, every SOLA belongs to $W^{1,p-1}_{\mathrm{loc}}$, and its weak gradient satisfies a Wolff potential estimate at every Lebesgue point of the weak gradient. Under the additional condition $sp>n$, the solution has a continuous representative that is Fr\'echet differentiable at every point where the potential is finite. These results give a partial answer to questions raised by Diening and Nowak [Ann. PDE, \textbf{11}(2025)] and by Diening, Kim, Lee and Nowak~[J. Eur. Math. Soc. (JEMS), 2025] concerning gradient potential estimates for the fractional $p$-Laplacian. The proof combines homogeneous affine decay with constants independent of the affine slope and comparison estimates to obtain an affine excess recurrence. Iteration then yields the Wolff potential bound.