On the Central Maximal Function in $\mathbb{R}^n$

Abstract

We study the central Hardy--Littlewood maximal operator $M_c$ in $\mathbb{R}^n$ for all $n\geq1$, with particular emphasis on the question of its injectivity. More precisely, we consider whether there exist two nonnegative functions $f,g\in L^1(\mathbb{R}^n)$ such that $\|f-g\|_1>0$ and $M_cf=M_cg$. Along the way, we obtain an elementary explicit formula for $M_c(\chi_U)$, where $U$ is the unit ball in $\mathbb{R}^3$. We also derive an explicit formula, in terms of the incomplete beta function, for the $n$-dimensional volume of the intersection of two balls with arbitrary radii and centers.