On the variation of maximal operators of convolution type

Abstract: In this paper we study the regularity properties of two maximal operators of convolution type: the heat flow maximal operator (associated to the Gauss kernel) and the Poisson maximal operator (associated to the Poisson kernel). In dimension $d=1$ we prove that these maximal operators do not increase the $L^p$-variation of a function for any $p \geq 1$, while in dimensions $d>1$ we obtain the corresponding results for the $L^2$-variation. Similar results are proved for the discrete versions of these operators.