In this paper we prove the optimal C-1,C-1(B-1/2)-regularity for a general obstacle-type problem Delta u = f chi({u not equal 0}) in B-1, under the assumption that f * N is C-1,C-1(B-1), where N is the Newtonian potential. This is the weakest assumption for which one can hope to get C-1,C-1-regularity. As a by-product of the C-1,C-1-regularity we are able to prove that, under a standard thickness assumption on the zero set close to a free boundary point x(0), the free boundary is locally a C-1-graph close to x(0) provided f is Dini. This completely settles the question of the optimal regularity of this problem, which has been the focus of much attention during the last two decades.
QC 20121221