2
$\begingroup$

Want to find $f_n$ a sequence of continuous functions, so that for all Borel regular measure $\mu$, we have

$\int f_n d\mu\rightarrow\int \chi_\Delta d\mu$, as $n$ goes to infinity, where $\Delta$ is a Borel set.

$\endgroup$
4
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ I don't think this is weak convergence, the dual of $L^{\infty}$ is finitely additive set functions, not just measures. $\endgroup$ Mar 13, 2019 at 17:14
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @ChristianRemling: And moreover, the dual of $L^\infty$ is only those finitely additive set functions which are absolutely continuous to your reference measure (which has not been specified). I think this question needs to be clarified. $\endgroup$ Mar 14, 2019 at 0:01
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Similar question: math.stackexchange.com/questions/2482042/… $\endgroup$
    – Dap
    Mar 14, 2019 at 7:07
  • $\begingroup$ @Dap yeah, I agree with the use of Dirac measure. So, we cannot talk about the convergence in all Borel measure. $\endgroup$
    – Bruno
    Mar 14, 2019 at 9:37

1 Answer 1

6
$\begingroup$

(EDITED) Let $\Delta$ be the rationals in $[0,1]$. If your condition is satisfied, in particular $f_n$ converges pointwise to $\chi_\Delta$. Let $C_n = \{x \in [0,1]: \forall m > n, \;|f_n(x) - f_m(x)|\le 1/3\}$. Then $C_n$ are closed and their union is $[0,1]$. By the Baire category theorem some $C_n$ has nonempty interior. But this is impossible since $f_n$ is continuous and both $\Delta$ and its complement are dense.

$\endgroup$
12
  • $\begingroup$ Of course, this raises just another question now: is it nevertheless true that the weak closure in $L^\infty$ of the set of continuous functions contains the characteristic functions of Borel sets? (The topology is not metrizable, so limits of sequences do not define the closure.) $\endgroup$
    – Gro-Tsen
    Mar 13, 2019 at 12:48
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Gro-Tsen If by weak closure you mean $\sigma(L^\infty, (L^\infty)^*)$-closure then isn't this just equal to the norm closure? (Mazur's theorem.) Or is this the probabilist's notion of weak convergence? $\endgroup$
    – Yemon Choi
    Mar 13, 2019 at 13:00
  • $\begingroup$ @YemonChoi I'm a poor ignorant algebraist who's a bit lost in a twisty maze of "weak" topologies all alike, but I meant the one which seems to be implicit in the question, namely, the coarsest topology on the set of bounded Borel functions which makes $f \mapsto \int f\,d\mu$ continuous for every finite regular Borel measure. (I guess I shouldn't have written $L^\infty$.) Or, what I hope amounts to the same: what if we change the question slightly to allow converging (Moore-Smith) nets $f_\alpha$ rather than merely sequences $f_n$ of continuous functions? $\endgroup$
    – Gro-Tsen
    Mar 13, 2019 at 14:09
  • $\begingroup$ If $\Delta$ is as suggested by Robert, then, again by one of the corollaries of Baire's theorem, $\chi_\Delta$ has a point of continuity (being Baire-$1$), which it doesn't. I think, Robert's $C_n$ are all empty (hence closed!), since $f_n$ is continuous; still the convergence assumption would force the union of the $C_n$ to be $[0,1]$. -- As for notation, it seems to me that the OP has defined his own ``weakish'' convergence different from weak convergence in Banach spaces. $\endgroup$ Mar 13, 2019 at 19:19
  • $\begingroup$ @ChristianRemling I agree that this is not the "weak" topology defined by the dual of $L^\infty$ (it was probably a mistake of mine to even mention $L^\infty$, which is not in the question), but it is legitimate to ask about the topology defined (on the bounded Borel functions I guess) by the seminorms $f\mapsto\left|\int f\,d\mu\right|$ for finite regular Borel measures $\mu$, which seems to be a kind of weak topology, no? I'm seriously confused at this point, but I think this makes sense. $\endgroup$
    – Gro-Tsen
    Mar 13, 2019 at 19:42

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.