Questions tagged [operator-theory]
Spectrum, resolvent, numerical range, functional calculus, operator semigroups. Special classes of operators: compact, Fredholm, dissipative, differential, integral, pseudodifferential, etc.
1,322
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Can you hear the shape of a drum by choosing where to drum it?
I find the problem of hearing the shape of a drum fascinating. Specifically, given two connected subsets of $\mathbb R^2$ with piecewise-smooth boundaries (or a suitable generalization to a riemannian ...
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Set-theoretic reformulation of the invariant subspace problem
The invariant subspace problem (ISP) for Hilbert spaces asks whether every bounded linear operator $A$ on $l^2$ (with complex scalars) must have a closed invariant subspace other than $\{0\}$ and $l^2$...
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Is the Invariant Subspace Problem interesting?
There's an amusing comment in Peter Lax's Functional Analysis book. After a brief description of the Invariant Subspace Problem, he says (paraphrasing) "...this question is still open. It is also an ...
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tr(ab)=tr(ba), part 2.
This is a Banach space version of Andre Henriques' question
Trace Question
for Hilbert spaces. Let $a:X\to Y$ and $b:Y\to X$ be bounded linear operators between Banach spaces s.t. $ba$ and $ab$ ...
32
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Why are there so many fractional derivatives?
I have been interested in fractional calculus for some time now, and I have seen "lots" of definitions of the $\frac {d^\alpha} {dx^\alpha}$ operator.
I started with the book The Fractional Calculus ...
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Do there exist infinite-dimensional Banach spaces in which every bounded linear operator attains its norm?
Let $X$ be a Banach space, $L(X)$ the space of all bounded linear operators on $X$. We say that $A ∈ L(X)$ attains its norm if there exists $x ∈ X$ such that $\|x\| = 1$ and $\|Ax\| = \|A\|$. The ...
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When is an integral transform trace class?
Given a measure space $(X, \mu)$ and a measurable integral kernel $k : X \times X \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$, the operator
$$ K f(\xi) =\int_{X} f(x) k(x,\xi) d \mu(x),$$
the operator $K$ is Hilbert ...
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Unital $C^{*}$ algebras whose all elements have path connected spectrum
A unital $C^{*}$ algebra is called a "Path connected algebra" if the spectrum of all its elements is a path connected subset of $\mathbb{C}$.
What is an example of a non commutative ...
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Understanding a simplifying assumption in proof of the invariant subspace problem
In a recent preprint On the invariant subspace problem in Hilbert spaces Per H. Enflo claims to have solved the invariant subspace problem, showing that every bounded linear operator on a separable ...
20
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Why do inner products require conjugation?
For Hermitian matrices and operators, the most "natural" inner product is $f^H \cdot g$ or $\int f^* g\; dx$. A similar situation holds interpreting Fourier transforms as the inner product of ...
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Existence of orthonormal basis for $L^2(G)$ in $C_c(G)$
Remark: I cross-posted this question on MSE and added a bounty to it.
Suppose that $G$ is a locally compact (Hausdorff) group endowed with the Haar measure. It is well-known that the compactly ...
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Why should I look at the resolvent formalism and think it is a useful tool for spectral theory?
Wikipedia calls resolvent formalism a useful tool for relating complex analysis to studying the spectra of a linear operator on a Banach space. Sure, I believe you because I've seen results that use ...
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Is the space of Hankel operators complemented in B(H)?
Let $H$ be $\ell^2({\mathbb N})$ and let $S:H\to H$ be the unilateral forward shift, so that $S^*S=I\neq SS^*$. Then a bounded operator $T:H\to H$ is Hankel if and only if it satisfies $TS=S^*T$.
Let ...
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Who first used the multiplication operator version of spectral theory
This is another history question.
Hilbert phrased the spectral theorem in terms of resolutions of the identity.
While this remained the form of Stone and von Neumann, they did also have the ...
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Are "most" operators on an infinite-dimensional complex Banach space "diagonalizable"?
This is true for finite-dimensional spaces: the diagonal operators on a finite dimensional complex vector space form contain a dense open set and the nondiagonalizable operators have measure 0.
To be ...
17
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The letters of the word "ART"
Edit: According to the Gelfand duality between topological spaces and commutative $C^{*}$algebras, I add some new tags. So the question is that what is the structure of $ Ext (A,A)$ where $A$ is $...
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Convexity of spectral radius of Markov operators, Random walks on non-amenable groups
Let $P_1,P_2$ denote stochastic transition matrices on a countable set $I$.
Consider $P_1,P_2$ as operators on $\ell^2(I)$ given by multiplication.
Question
Under which conditions can we show that ...
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Intuitive explanation why "shadow operator" $\frac D{e^D-1}$ connects logarithms with trigonometric functions?
Consider the operator $\frac D{e^D-1}$ which we will call "shadow":
$$\frac {D}{e^D-1}f(x)=\frac1{2 \pi }\int_{-\infty }^{+\infty } e^{-iwx}\frac{-iw}{e^{-i w}-1}\int_{-\infty }^{+\infty } e^...
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Hodge de Rham operator and orientability
Let $(M,g)$ be a Riemannian manifold. One can consider the exterior algebra bundle $\Lambda(T^*M)$. The sections of this bundle are differential forms, to be noted by $\Omega^k(M)$. One can consider ...
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Version of Banach-Steinhaus theorem
I am wondering about the following version of the Banach-Steinhaus theorem.
Let $A$ be a closed convex subset contained in the unit ball of a Banach space $X$ and consider bounded operators $T_n \in \...
15
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2
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An orbit of symmetric polynomials
Consider the ring of polynomials $R:=\mathbb{Z}[x_1,x_2,x_3]$. Define the operators $E, I:R\rightarrow R$ by $Ef(x_1,x_2,x_3)=f(x_1-1,x_2,x_3)$ and the identity $If=f$.
Let $\mathcal{L}:R\rightarrow R$...
15
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2
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Multiple of identity plus compact
Is there an example of a bounded operator $T\in\mathcal{B}(H)$, where $H$ is a separable complex Hilbert space, such that no restriction to an infinite dimensional closed subspace is multiple of ...
15
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1
answer
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Approximate eigenvectors for a set of non-commuting self-adjoint operators
This problem is motivated by finding the right mathematical setting for expressing the compatibility of classical physics with quantum mechanics.
Let $\mathcal H$ be a Hilbert space and $S$ a ...
15
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PT Symmetry and the Riemann Hypothesis
Recently there have been articles in Quanta, in Science Alert, and at phys.org among others, on possible recent progress toward the Hilbert-Polya conjecture, which implies the Riemann Hypothesis. The ...
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How far is a set of vectors from being orthogonal?
Given some vectors, how many dimensions do you need to add (to their span) before you can find some mutually orthogonal vectors that project down to the original ones?
Or, more formally...
Suppose $...
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How much does the absolute value of an operator behave like an absolute value?
Recall that the absolute value of a bounded operator $T$ on a Hilbert space $H$ is the unique positive operator $|T|$ such that $$\||T|x\|=\|Tx\|$$ for all $x\in H$. It can be defined using the ...
14
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1
answer
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Criterion for a Banach algebra to be finite dimensional
Let $A$ be a Banach algebra (say, complex and unital) and suppose that every (closed) commutative subalgebra of $A$ is finite dimensional.
Question. Does it follow that $A$ is finite dimensional?
...
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Homotopy groups of Fredholm operators
If $X$ is separable complex Hilbert space and $\mathcal{F}$ the topological space of Fredholm operators on $X$, then it is well-known, that
$$ \pi_0(\mathcal{F}) = \mathbb{Z}\, , $$
i.e. the connected ...
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If two projections are close, then they are unitarily equivalent
Given two projections $p,q\in B(H)$, it is well-known that if $\|p-q\|<1$, then there exists a unitary $u\in B(H)$ with $q=upu^*$.
The proof that immediately occurs to me uses comparison of ...
13
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2
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Does $X$ embed in $Y$, and $Y$ embed in $X$, always imply that $X$ isomorphic onto $Y$?
Let $X$ and $Y$ be Banach spaces. The notion of the embedded spaces was introduced by D.S. Djordjevic. Say that $X$ embed in $Y$, and write $X \preceq Y$, if there exists a left invertible operator $...
13
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Which nice/deep elaborations on the (operators <-> sheaves) / (endomorphisms <-> objects) theme are there?
A linear operator $T:V\to V$ on a (say) vector space over a field $k$ is just a $k[T]$-module, and may be viewed as the sheaf $\mathscr F_T$ over $\mathbb A^1_k$, with fibre over $\lambda\in k$ equal ...
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1
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Is there an algebra for divergent series summation operators?
Let $D$ denote a divergent series and let $C$ denote a convergent series.
Furthermore, let $s : $ { Series } $\to$ $\mathbb{C}$ be a regular, linear divergent series operator, which is either one ...
13
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1
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One question about the $\eta$ invariant
This question is from the paper, The Analysis of Elliptic Families
II. Dirac Operators, Eta Invariants, and the Holonomy Theorem, Commun. Math. Phys. 107, 103-163 (1986) --- Proposition 2.8.
Suppose ...
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Is there an analog of determinant for linear operators in infinite dimensions as that of finite dimensions?
I am trying to find out the essence of what a determinant is. Besides, in finite dimensions, determinant is the kind of numerical invariant that determines the invertibility of a linear operator, but ...
12
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3
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Bibliographic request concerning an article by Bernstein and Robinson
Concerning the article "Bernstein, Allen R.; Robinson, Abraham.
Solution of an invariant subspace problem of K. T. Smith and
P. R. Halmos. Pacific J. Math. 16 1966 421-431" I am interested in
finding ...
12
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1
answer
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Is there a proof that the $C^{*}$-algebras don't see the invariant subspace problem?
This post is an appendix of this one.
Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional separable Hilbert space and $B(H)$ the algebra of bounded operators.
Invariant subspace problem: Let $T \in B(H)$. Is ...
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Is the set of separable quantum states closed?
Let $\mathcal H,\mathcal H'$ be Hilbert spaces (not necessarily separable).
A "separable state" is a trace-class operator of the form $\sum_i \rho_i\otimes\rho_i'$ where $\rho_i,\rho_i'$ are positive ...
12
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2
answers
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Existence of closed operators with arbitrary dense domain of a given Banach space
Consider any Banach space $X$, and let $Y$ be any dense subspace, then does it necessarily exist a closed linear operator $T$ defined on $X$, such that the domain of $T$ is exactly $Y$, i.e., $D(T)=Y$?...
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Decomposition of positive definite matrices.
It is known that a $n^2 \times n^2$ positive semidefinite matrix $A$ cannot always be written as a finite sum
$$
A=\sum_{j} B_j \otimes C_j
$$
with $B_j$ and $C_j$ positive semidefinite matrices (of ...
12
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1
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Spectra on different spaces
This is a method request: I am looking for techniques that allow me to investigate problems like this:
Let $T_1: \ell^1 \rightarrow \ell^1$ be a bounded operator with $\Re(\sigma(T_1)) \subset (-\...
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Holomorphic natural bundles and operators
I am wondering up to what extent the classical theory of (smooth) natural bundles and natural operations extends to the holomorphic setting.
After a quick thought, I've gone through the standard ...
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Operator that commutes with projections
We investigate the Hilbert space $\ell^2(\mathbb{N}_0)$ with standard orthonormal basis vectors $e_n:=(0,...,0,1,0,...).$
Consider the family of self-adjoint rank $1$ projections $P_n\bullet:= \...
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3
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Dual space of $L^2(\mathbb{R},L^1(0,1))$?
I was wondering what the dual space of $L^2(\mathbb{R},L^1(0,1))$ is? (equipped with Lebesgue measures)
Formally, one would suspect that it is just $L^2(\mathbb{R},L^{\infty}(0,1))$. But this may be a ...
11
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3
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Does the generator of a 1-parameter group of Banach space isometries know which elements are entire?
Let $X$ be a complex Banach space. Let $(\sigma_t)_{t \in \mathbb{R}}$ be a 1-parameter group of linear isometries of $X$ which is strongly continuous i.e. $t \mapsto \sigma_t(x)$ is continuous for ...
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What's the matrix of logarithm of derivative operator ($\ln D$)? What is the role of this operator in various math fields?
Babusci and Dattoli, On the logarithm of the derivative operator, arXiv:1105.5978, gives some great results:
\begin{align*}
(\ln D) 1 & {}= -\ln x -\gamma \\
(\ln D) x^n & {}= x^n (\psi (n+1)-\...
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Concentration compactness. Can this concept be stated in a theorem?
I recently attended a talk on NLS which is rather not my main field of interest. Yet, I got interested in a concept called concentration compactness during the talk.
When I approached the speaker ...
11
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2
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A neat evaluation of an infinite matrix?
Let $M_n$ be an $n\times n$ matrix defined as
$$M_n
=\left[\frac{2i+1}{2(i+j+1)}\binom{i-1/2}i\binom{j-1/2}jx^{i+j+1}\right]_{i,j=0}^n.$$
With $I_n$ the identity matrix, consider $A_n:=I_n-M_n^2$. ...
11
votes
2
answers
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Exponential decay of voltage potential difference
Consider the following adjacency matrix of a complete graph:
$$A=(e^{-|i-j|})_{1\leq i\neq j\leq n}$$
with 0 on the diagonal. Let $D=diag\{d_1,...,d_n\}$ be the degree matrix where $d_i=\sum_{j\neq i}...
11
votes
2
answers
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Is $\mathcal{B}^{\mathbb{Z}}(l^\infty(\mathbb{Z}))$ a commutative algebra?
Consider $l^\infty(\mathbb{Z})$ the Banach space of bounded complex valued functions on the abelian group $\mathbb{Z}$ with the supremum norm. It has a natural action by $\mathbb{Z}$ given by $(zf)(g):...
11
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1
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Quasi-nilpotent trace class operators as limits of nilpotents
In as yet unwritten work with T. Figiel and A. Szankowski we make an observation in a Banach space context that for Hilbert spaces reduces to:
If $T$ is a quasi-nilpotent (i.e., has only $0$ in its ...