# Complex Borel measures: does $\mu_n \to \mu$ weakly imply $|\mu|(\Theta) \le \liminf_n |\mu_n|(\Theta)$ for every open subset $\Theta$?

Let

• $$\Omega$$ be a metric space,
• $$C_b(\Omega)$$ the space of all real-valued bounded continuous functions on $$\Omega$$, and
• $$\mathcal{M}(\Omega)$$ the space of all finite signed Borel measures on $$\Omega$$.

For $$\mu \in \mathcal{M}(\Omega)$$, we denote by $$|\mu|$$ its associated variation measure. We say that a sequence $$\left\{\mu_n\right\} \subset \mathcal{M}(\Omega)$$ converges to $$\mu \in \mathcal{M}(\Omega)$$ weakly if $$\int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu_n \to \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu$$ for all $$f \in C_b(\Omega)$$ and we write $$\underset{n \rightarrow \infty}{\operatorname{w-lim}} \, \mu_n= \mu$$;

It is proved in this answer that

Theorem Let $$\mu_n,\mu\in \mathcal{M}(\Omega)$$ such that that $$\underset{n \rightarrow \infty}{\operatorname{w-lim}} \, \mu_n=\mu$$. Then for any open subset $$\Theta$$ of $$\Omega$$, $$|\mu|(\Theta) \leq \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left|\mu_n\right|(\Theta) .$$

The essential part of the proof is that given $$\varepsilon>0$$ there is $$f \in C_b(\Omega)$$ such that $$|f| \le 1_\Theta \quad \text{and} \quad \int_\Omega f \mathrm d\mu\ge|\mu|(\Theta)-\varepsilon.$$

Then by weak convergence of $$(\mu_n)$$ we have $$|\mu|(\Theta)-\varepsilon \leq \int f \mathrm{~d} \mu=\lim _{n \rightarrow \infty} \int f \mathrm{~d} \mu_n \leq \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty} \int|f| \mathrm{d}\left|\mu_n\right| \leq \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left|\mu_n\right|(\Theta).$$

The result then follows by taking the limit $$\varepsilon \to 0^+$$.

My understanding: To have above inequalities, we use the fact that $$\mu,\mu_n$$ are real-valued.

Question: Can the above theorem be extended to the setting of complex Borel measures?

Update: Below is my failed attempt. It would be great if it can be fixed into a valid proof. I could not prove that $$\liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty} \big (\left|\mu^1_n\right|(\Theta) + \left|\mu^2_n\right|(\Theta) \big ) \le \liminf_n \left|\mu_n\right|(\Theta) .$$

My attempt: Let $$\mu_n, \mu$$ are complex Borel measures on $$\Omega$$ such that $$\underset{n \rightarrow \infty}{\operatorname{w-lim}} \, \mu_n= \mu$$. Assume $$\mu_n, \mu$$ are decomposed into $$\mu_n =\mu_n^1 + i \mu_n^2$$ and $$\mu =\mu^1 + i \mu^2$$ where $$i$$ is the imaginary unit and $$\mu_n^1, \mu_n^2, \mu^1, \mu^2$$ are finite signed Borel measures. We have \begin{align*} \underset{n \rightarrow \infty}{\operatorname{w-lim}} \, \mu_n = \mu &\iff \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu_n^1 + i \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu_n^2 \to \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu^1 + i \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu^2 \quad \forall f \in C_b(\Omega) \\ &\iff \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu_n^1 \to \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu^1 \quad \text{and} \quad \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu_n^2 \to \int_\Omega f \mathrm d \mu^2 \quad \forall f \in C_b(\Omega) \\ &\iff \underset{n \rightarrow \infty}{\operatorname{w-lim}} \, \mu^1_n = \mu^1 \quad \text{and} \quad \underset{n \rightarrow \infty}{\operatorname{w-lim}} \, \mu^2_n = \mu^2 \\ &\implies |\mu^1|(\Theta) \leq \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left|\mu^1_n\right|(\Theta) \quad \text{and} \quad |\mu^2|(\Theta) \leq \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left|\mu^2_n\right|(\Theta) \end{align*} for all open subsets $$\Theta$$ of $$\Omega$$. From this question, we have $$|\mu|(\Theta) \le |\mu^1|(\Theta) + |\mu^2|(\Theta).$$

As such, $$|\mu|(\Theta) \le \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left|\mu^1_n\right|(\Theta) + \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty}\left|\mu^2_n\right|(\Theta) \le \liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty} \big (\left|\mu^1_n\right|(\Theta) + \left|\mu^2_n\right|(\Theta) \big ).$$

• @IosifPinelis I have tried but could not prove that $$\liminf _{n \rightarrow \infty} \big (\left|\mu^1_n\right|(\Theta) + \left|\mu^2_n\right|(\Theta) \big ) \le \liminf_n \left|\mu_n\right|(\Theta) .$$ Please see my update. Nov 6, 2022 at 21:01
• Write $|\mu(U)|=e^{i\theta}\mu(U)=\nu (U)$, where $\nu$ is the real measure $Re\, ( e^{i\theta}\mu)$. Then take $|f| \leq \chi_U$ real such that $$|\nu(U)| \leq \epsilon \int fd\nu=\epsilon +Re \int f e^{i\theta} d\mu.$$ Then it should go on as in your post. Nov 7, 2022 at 15:04
• @GiorgioMetafune From this Wikipedia page, the polar form is $\mathrm d \mu=e^{i \theta} \mathrm d|\mu|$, whereas yours is $\mathrm d |\mu| = e^{i \theta} \mathrm d\mu$. Could you elaborate on this difference? Nov 7, 2022 at 18:45
• @Analyst: Notice that if $\mu(dx)=e^{i\theta(x)}\,|\mu|(dx)$, then since $|e^{i\theta(x)}|=1$, $|\mu|(dx)=e^{-i \theta}\mu(dx)$ Nov 7, 2022 at 19:22


Take any real $$\ep>0$$. Next, take any natural $$\begin{equation*} m>\frac{2\pi |\mu|(\Th)}{\ep/2} \tag{2}\label{2} \end{equation*}$$ and any $$\begin{equation*} \de\in\Big(0,\frac\ep{2(2m+1)}\Big). \tag{3}\label{3} \end{equation*}$$

For $$j\in[m]:=\{1,\dots,m\}$$, let $$\begin{equation*} I_j:=[\tfrac{2\pi(j-1)}m,\tfrac{2\pi j}m),\ A_j:=\Th\cap g^{-1}(I_j), \tag{4}\label{4} \end{equation*}$$ so that the $$A_j$$'s are Borel sets forming a partition of $$\Th$$.

Since $$\Om$$ is a metric space and $$|\mu|$$ is a Borel measure, $$|\mu|$$ is regular. So, for each $$j\in[m]$$ there exist a closed set $$F_j$$ and an open set $$G_j$$ such that $$\begin{equation*} F_j\subseteq A_j\subseteq G_j\text{ and }|\mu|(G_j\setminus F_j)<\de, \tag{5}\label{5} \end{equation*}$$ so that the $$F_j$$'s are (pairwise) disjoint and for $$\begin{equation*} F:=\bigcup_{j\in[m]}F_j\text{ and }G:=\Th\setminus F \tag{6}\label{6} \end{equation*}$$ we have $$\begin{equation*} |\mu|(G)=\sum_{j\in[m]}|\mu|(A_j\setminus F_j)

All metric spaces are normal. So, by Urysohn's lemma, for each $$j\in[m]$$ there exists a continuous function $$h_j\colon\Om\to\R$$ such that $$\begin{equation*} h_j=1\text{ on }F_j,\ h_j=0\text{ on }G_j^c:=\Om\setminus G_j,\ 0\le h_j\le1. \tag{9}\label{9} \end{equation*}$$ Let $$\begin{equation*} h:=\sum_{j\in[m]} \frac{2\pi j}m\,h_j. \tag{10}\label{10} \end{equation*}$$ Then, by \eqref{6}, \eqref{10}, \eqref{9}, and \eqref{4}, on $$F$$ we have $$0\le h-g\le\frac{2\pi}m$$, and hence $$\begin{equation*} |e^{ih}-e^{ig}|\le\frac{2\pi}m\quad \text{on}\ F. \tag{11}\label{11} \end{equation*}$$

Again by the regularity of $$|\mu|$$ and Urysohn's lemma, there exist a closed set $$F_0$$ and a continuous function $$h_0\colon\Om\to\R$$ such that $$\begin{equation*} F_0\subseteq\Th,\ |\mu|(\Th\setminus F_0)<\de, \tag{12}\label{12} \end{equation*}$$ $$\begin{equation*} h_0=1\text{ on }F_0,\ h_0=0\text{ on }\Th^c,\ 0\le h_0\le1. \tag{13}\label{13} \end{equation*}$$

So, by \eqref{1}, \eqref{13}, \eqref{6}, \eqref{11}, \eqref{12}, \eqref{8}, \eqref{2}, \eqref{3}, \begin{equation*} \begin{aligned} &\Big||\mu|(\Th)-\int_\Om h_0 e^{ih}\,d\mu\Big| \\ =&\Big|\int_\Th e^{ig}\,d\mu-\int_\Th h_0 e^{ih}\,d\mu\Big| \\ \le&\int_\Th |1-h_0|\,d|\mu|+\int_\Th|e^{ig}-e^{ih}|\,d|\mu| \\ =&\int_\Th |1-h_0|\,d|\mu|+\int_F|e^{ig}-e^{ih}|\,d|\mu| +\int_G|e^{ig}-e^{ih}|\,d|\mu| \\ \le&|\mu|(\Th-F_0)+ \frac{2\pi}m\,|\mu|(F)+2|\mu|(G) \\ \le&\de+ \frac{2\pi}m\,|\mu|(\Th)+2m\de<\ep. \end{aligned} \end{equation*} So, \begin{equation*} \begin{aligned} |\mu|(\Th)&=\Re|\mu|(\Th) \\ &\le\ep+\Re\int_\Om h_0 e^{ih}\,d\mu \\ &=\ep+\lim_n\Re\int_\Om h_0 e^{ih}\,d\mu_n \\ &=\ep+\liminf_n\Re\int_\Om h_0 e^{ih}\,d\mu_n \\ &=\ep+\liminf_n\Re\int_\Th h_0 e^{ih}\,d\mu_n \\ &\le\ep+\liminf_n|\mu_n|(\Th). \end{aligned} \end{equation*} Letting $$\ep\downarrow0$$, we conclude that $$\begin{equation*} |\mu|(\Th)\le\liminf_n|\mu_n|(\Th), \end{equation*}$$ as desired.

• Ah! I see know, I forgot that you've taken care of the continuity of the character $e^{ig}$ by using a continuous approximation $e^{ih}$. Sorry! Everything is clear now...I'll remove my previous comments shortly. Nov 9, 2022 at 22:27
• Thank you again for your very detailed answer! Nov 10, 2022 at 15:10