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The Ball-Evans approximation problem in three dimensions: strong approximation of Sobolev homeomorphisms by diffeomorphisms

Theorems: for nonempty bounded connected open Ω,Λ⊂R3\Omega,\Lambda\subset\mathbb R^3 and a homeomorphism f∈W1,p(Ω;R3)f\in W^{1,p}(\Omega;\mathbb R^3) onto Λ\Lambda, there are C∞C^\infty diffeomorphisms fj:Ω→Λf_j:\Omega\to\Lambda with ∥fj−f∥W1,p→0\|f_j-f\|_{W^{1,p}}\to0; proved for 1≤p≤21\le p\le2 in one manuscript and for all finite p>2p>2 in the other. The method first builds onto locally bi-Lipschitz approximants with small Sobolev error, then smooths them with fine pointwise control using three-dimensional PL topology (Moise, Bing, Hamilton). It does not give convergence of inverses, approximation by piecewise affine maps with inverse control, or anything in dimensions n≥4n\ge4 for p≥⌊n/2⌋p\ge\lfloor n/2\rfloor.

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Occurred: Sep 24, 2026

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Canonical aliases: The Ball-Evans approximation problem in three dimensions: strong approximation of Sobolev homeomorphisms by diffeomorphisms · Ball-Evans approximation problem in 3D

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Companion: Strong diffeomorphic approximation in three dimensions for p > 2 evidence for this event

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VibeMathed record: The Ball-Evans approximation problem in three dimensions: strong approximation of Sobolev homeomorphisms by diffeomorphisms evidence for this event

Theorems: for nonempty bounded connected open Ω,Λ⊂R3\Omega,\Lambda\subset\mathbb R^3 and a homeomorphism f∈W1,p(Ω;R3)f\in W^{1,p}(\Omega;\mathbb R^3) onto Λ\Lambda, there are C∞C^\infty diffeomorphisms fj:Ω→Λf_j:\Omega\to\Lambda with ∥fj−f∥W1,p→0\|f_j-f\|_{W^{1,p}}\to0; proved for 1≤p≤21\le p\le2 in one manuscript and for all finite p>2p>2 in the other. The method first builds onto locally bi-Lipschitz approximants with small Sobolev error, then smooths them with fine pointwise control using three-dimensional PL topology (Moise, Bing, Hamilton). It does not give convergence of inverses, approximation by piecewise affine maps with inverse control, or anything in dimensions n≥4n\ge4 for p≥⌊n/2⌋p\ge\lfloor n/2\rfloor. parent of this event

The Ball-Evans approximation problem in three dimensions: strong approximation of Sobolev homeomorphisms by diffeomorphisms evidence for this event

The Ball-Evans approximation problem in three dimensions: strong approximation of Sobolev homeomorphisms by diffeomorphisms parent of this event

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