Propagation of smallness in elliptic periodic homogenization

Abstract: The paper is mainly concerned with an approximate three-ball inequality for solutions in elliptic periodic homogenization. We consider a family of second order operators $\mathcal{L}_\epsilon$ in divergence form with rapidly oscillating and periodic coefficients. It is the first time such an approximate three-ball inequality for homogenization theory is obtained. It implies an approximate quantitative propagation of smallness. The proof relies on a representation of the solution by the Poisson kernel and the Lagrange interpolation technique. Another full propagation of smallness result is also shown.