Sharp regularity for evolutionary obstacle problems, interpolative geometries and removable sets

In this paper we prove, by showing that solutions have exactly the same degree of regularity as the obstacle, optimal regularity results for obstacle problems involving evolutionary p-Laplace type operators. A main ingredient, of independent interest, is a new intrinsic interpolative geometry allowing for optimal linearization principles via blow-up analysis at contact points. This also opens the way to the proof of a removability theorem for solutions to evolutionary p-Laplace type equations. A basic feature of the paper is that no differentiability in time is assumed on the obstacle; this is in line with the corresponding linear results.