An Estimate of the Maximal Operators Associated with Generalized Lacunary Sets

Let $\Omega$ be any set of directions (unit vectors) on the plane. In this paper we study maximal operator of the one dimensional maximal function computed in the directions of $\Omega$ We are interested in extensions of lacunary sets of directions, to collections we call $N$--lacunary, for integers $N$. We proceed by induction. Say that $\Omega$ is 1--lacunary iff $\Omega$ is an ordinary lacunary set of vectors. Every $N+1$--lacunary set can be obtained from some $N$--lacunary $\Omega_N$ adding some points to $\Omega_N$. Between each two neighbor points $a,b\in\Omega_N$ we can add a 1--lacunary sequence (finite or infinite). We show that for all $N$ lacunary sets $\Omega$, $$\|M_\Omega f(x)\|_2\lesssim{}N \|f\|_2.$$ Observe that every set $\Omega$ of $N$ points is $(C\log N)$--lacunary. We then obtain a Theorem of N. Katz \cite{Katz2}. Both the current inequality, and Katz' result are consequence of a general result of Alfonseca, Soria, and Vargas \cites{ASV2}. We offer the current proof as a succinct, self--contained approach to this inequality.