All Questions
1,304 questions
59
votes
9
answers
10k
views
Motivation for and history of pseudo-differential operators
Suppose you start from partial differential equations and functional analysis (on $\mathbb R^n$ and on real manifolds). Which prominent example problems lead you to work with pseudo-differential ...
- 5,327
37
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Which differential equations allow for a variational formulation?
Many ODE's and PDE's arising in nature have a variational formulation. An example of what I mean is the following. Classical motions are solutions $q(t)$ to Lagrange's equation
$$
\frac{d}{dt}\frac{\...
- 7,583
27
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Compact embeddings of Sobolev spaces: a counterexample showing the Rellich-Kondrachov theorem is sharp
Let $U$ be an open bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$ with $C^{1}$ boundary. Let $1 \leq p < n$ and $p^{\ast} = pn/(n-p)$. Then the Sobolev space $W^{1,p}(U)$ is contained $L^{p^{\ast}}(U)$ and ...
- 309
23
votes
5
answers
2k
views
PDEs and algebraic varieties
Let $P$ be an order $d$ differential operator with constant coefficients and consider a PDE of the form $Pf = \delta$. Taking the Fourier transform of $P$ we get a degree $d$ polynomial whose zero ...
- 8,998
22
votes
4
answers
3k
views
When to use more exciting function spaces than ordinary Sobolev spaces?
In which kinds of PDEs are the more interesting function spaces required? I am thinking of spaces such as Besov and Triebel spaces, and their weighted versions.
For example, Sobolev spaces $L^2(0,T;H^...
- 405
22
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Image of the trace operator
It is well-known that we have the trace theorem for Sobolev spaces. Let $\Omega$ be an open domain with smooth boundary, we know that the map
$$ T: C^1(\bar\Omega) \to C^1(\partial\Omega) \subset L^...
- 39.1k
21
votes
1
answer
742
views
Non real eigenvalues for elliptic equations
I am looking for an example of a pure second order uniformly elliptic operator
$L=\sum_{i,j=1}^da_{ij}(x)D_{ij}$ in a bounded domain $\Omega$ (with Dirichlet boundary conditions, for example) having a ...
- 6,035
18
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Poincare lemma for non-smooth differentiable forms
The Poincare lemma is almost always formulated for differential forms with smooth coefficients (or sometimes for currents that have distributional coefficients). I would like to have it for $C^k$-...
- 16.4k
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Invariant definition of the space of symbols on a vector bundle (pseudo-differential operators)
Normally, in the context of pseudo-differential operators, a symbol on a vector bundle $E$ is defined as a smooth function on $E$ which in each trivializing chart fulfills the usual symbol estimates
\...
- 5,824
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How to generalize the various vector calculus theorems to distributions?
Here is a list of vector calculus identities; in the proof of these identities, we all assume that these functions are $𝐶^𝑘$ in an open set, and we usually use these identities to calculate ...
- 415
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
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 \...
- 536
14
votes
1
answer
830
views
Spectrum of matrix involving quantum harmonic oscillator
The quantum harmonic oscillator relies on two classical objects, the so-called creation and annihilation operator
$$a ^* = x- \partial_x \text{ and }a = x+\partial_x.$$
Fix two numbers $\alpha,\beta \...
- 192
14
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is every continuous microlocal operator a pseudo-differential operator?
Let $\mathcal S'=\mathcal S'(\mathbb R^n)$ be the Schwartz distribution space.
Suppose $A\colon\mathcal S'\to\mathcal S'$ is linear, continuous and microlocal.
By being microlocal I mean that the wave ...
- 8,086
14
votes
2
answers
536
views
Reference Request: Elliptic differential operators in the Fréchet setting
Normally the theory of (elliptic) differential operators between vector bundles (or $\mathbb{R}^n$) is presented in the language of Sobolev spaces. I'm searching for a book (or something similar) ...
- 5,824
14
votes
0
answers
633
views
Classes of (non-continuous) functions with the fixed point property
Let $K$ be a convex body in $ R^d$. (Say, a ball, say a cube...) For which classes $ \cal C$ of functions, every function $ f \in {\cal C}$ which takes $K$ into itself admits a fixed point in $K$.
...
- 24.7k
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Sobolev spaces and geometry
This is a very naive question, is there a way to geometrically understand Sobolev spaces without going through analysis and PDE's? To my knowledge, Sobolev spaces where created precisely to study PDE'...
- 947
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Space of sections of a fibre bundle with non-compact base space
Let $\pi: E \rightarrow M$ be a fiber bundle over the manifold M and denote by $\Gamma(E)$ the space of smooth sections of $E$.
For compact $M$ it is well known (Hamilton 1982, Part II Corollary 1.3.9)...
- 5,824
12
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Where was/is Compensated Compactness used?
This last summer, I read up on Tartar's so called Method of Compensated Compactness (or at least how it applied to scalar conservation laws). I used this theory to prove the existence of $L^{\infty}$ ...
- 261
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Reference request: Simple facts about vector-valued Sobolev space
Let $V,H$ be separable Hilbert spaces such that there are dense injections $V \hookrightarrow H \hookrightarrow V^*$. (For example, $H = L^2(\mathbb{R}^n)$, $V = H^1(\mathbb{R}^n)$, $V^* = H^{-1}(\...
- 29.8k
12
votes
2
answers
878
views
The ground state is signed and symmetric
Background
In Berestycki and Lions it is asserted that (on page 316), if I am not misreading, that the "ground state", i.e. action minimizer among nontrivial solutions, corresponding to the action
$$...
- 39.1k
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Reference on Minty's trick
I am searching for a precise reference for the following result:
Consider $f:\mathbb{R}_+\rightarrow\mathbb{R}_+$ a nondecreasing function.
Assume that a sequence of nonnegative functions $(u_n)_n$ ...
- 3,425
12
votes
1
answer
735
views
Parametrisations for null temperature functions: nonuniqueness of solutions to the heat equation
Disclaimer. I expect this is a highly open problem, but maybe I'm wrong and someone has come up with some answers besides those given here. In any case, all information appreciated, thanks!
Definition....
- 1,990
12
votes
0
answers
476
views
Are Sobolev trace spaces equal from both sides of the boundary?
Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb R^n$ be a bounded open set and $\Omega'$ the complement of its closure.
Assume $\partial\Omega=\partial\Omega'$.
Are the quotient spaces $W^{1,p}(\Omega)/W^{1,p}_0(\Omega)$ ...
- 8,086
11
votes
2
answers
478
views
$x f'$ bounded by $x^2f $ and $f''$?
Consider the Hilbert space of functions $f \in L^2(\mathbb R)$ such that $x^2f \in L^2(\mathbb R) $ and $ f'' \in L^2(\mathbb R).$
I am wondering whether it is true that $xf'\in L^2(\mathbb R)$ as ...
- 177
11
votes
3
answers
678
views
Which matrices can be realized as the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map for a given domain?
Consider Poisson equation $\nabla \cdot (\sigma(x)\nabla u)=0$ in a domain $D$, where $\sigma(x)$ is the spatially dependent conductivity. On the boundary we have $n$ electrodes (Dirichlet BC $u=\text{...
- 532
11
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Boundedness of the derivative of the trace of an H^1 function
As a research preface, this question is linked to a problem of increasing magnetism in Ginzburg-Landau equations that I have distilled for the purpose of getting to the bottom of this technical matter....
- 882
11
votes
2
answers
712
views
Poincaré lemma for distributions
Let us consider a current on $\mathbb R^n$, that is a differential form whose coefficients are distributions. For simplicity, let us check the case of a $1$-form
$$
u=\sum_{1\le j\le n} u_j dx_j,\quad ...
- 16.2k
11
votes
1
answer
668
views
Is every continuous endomorphism of the Schwartz space a pseudo-differential operator?
Let $\mathcal{S}:= \mathcal{S}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ be the Schwartz space of smooth functions with rapid decay. The question is pretty simply stated in the title. Pseudo-differential act continuously on the ...
- 7,789
11
votes
3
answers
3k
views
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 ...
- 175
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Harmonic oscillator in spherical coordinates
It is probably the most well-known result in quantum mechanics that the harmonic oscillator can be solved by supersymmetry.
More precisely, the operator
$$-\frac{d^2}{dx^2}+x^2$$
can be ...
- 113
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
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 ...
- 501
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Research topics in microlocal analysis
Before asking this question here I did some research on web but I would like to get the opinion of those directly interested if there are any , (as I did in this thread Research topics in distribution ...
- 589
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
References: spectral analysis of the Laplacian operator
I'm looking for several references on the spectral analysis of the Laplacian operator. It is such a well-known topic, but I'm a bit struggling to locate modern systematic expositions in the literature....
user89890
10
votes
1
answer
957
views
Do eigenfunctions of elliptic operator form basis of $H^k(M)$?
We know that the eigenfunctions of the Laplacian on a compact manifold $M$ form a countable basis of $H^1(M)$ and $L^2(M)$.
If $L$ is a $2k$-order elliptic operator, do the eigenfunctions of $L$ ...
- 103
10
votes
1
answer
973
views
$\int\limits_{\Omega}{uvdx}<\infty,\forall v\in H_0^1(\Omega)$ implies $u\in L^{6/5}(\Omega)$
I posted this question first in Math.StackExchange one week ago here, but I didn't get an answer or a helpful comment so I repost it here:
Let $d=3$ and $\Omega\subset \mathbb R^d$ is a bounded ...
- 261
10
votes
1
answer
574
views
General validity of separation of variables
Let $L$ be any differential operator (not necessarily linear).
Given initial conditions and boundary conditions (of any type), I am interested in general statements of the form:
Given a boundary ...
- 237
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Historical developement of analysis and partial differential equations (especially in the 20th century)
Q: Is there a set of some comprehensive surveys or monographs describing (in
technical detail) the historical development of the various
subareas of analysis and partial differential equations?
I'...
10
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Trace of integral trace-class operator
I have seen many answers to the converse question (which seems to be difficult in general), but I would like to ask the following:
Let $T: L^2 \rightarrow L^2$ be a trace-class operator that is also ...
user69109
10
votes
1
answer
454
views
Open Questions about Wasserstein Space and PDE
While working on my thesis, I encountered the idea of OMT and started reading some more (like Villani's book). In particular, I came across a PhD thesis by Martial Agueh. I thought it was interesting ...
- 427
10
votes
1
answer
586
views
Nonlinear Schrödinger equation with discrete Laplacian
In the paper "Global existence and scattering for rough solutions of a nonlinear Schrödinger equation on $\mathbb{R}^3$" by Colliander, Keel, Staffilani, Takaoka and Tao it is argued in the beginning ...
user127411
10
votes
1
answer
518
views
Inverse function theorem for $W^{2,n}\cap W^{1,\infty}$ functions
Let $n\ge 2$, $f:B_1\subset \mathbb R^n\rightarrow \mathbb R^n$, $f\in W^{2,n}\cap W^{1,\infty}(B_1)$, $\text{det}(Df)>c>0$, where $B_1$ is the unit ball. Can we show that $f$ is a homeomorphism ...
- 435
10
votes
0
answers
422
views
Upper bound Hölder norm of the solution to the non-linear PDE $\partial_t u (t, x) = \Delta_x \{ |\sigma (u (t, x))|^2 u(t, x) \}$
We fix $T>0$ and let $\mathbb T := [0, T]$. Let $\sigma : \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ belong to the Hölder space $C^{1, \alpha}_b (\mathbb R)$ for some $\alpha \in (0, 1)$. Let $u : \mathbb T \times \...
- 825
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Chain rule for distributional derivative
Let $V \subset H \subset V^*$ be a Gelfand triple (eg. $H^1 \subset L^2 \subset H^{-1}$).
Let $u \in L^2(0,T;V)$ have a distributional derivative $u' \in L^2(0,T;V^*)$. So $\int_0^T u(t)\varphi'(t) = ...
- 145
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Density of restrictions of harmonic functions inside a ball
Let $B$ be the closed unit ball in $\mathbb R^3$ centered at the origin and let $U= \{x\in \mathbb R^3\,:\, \frac{1}{2}\leq |x| \leq 1\}.$ Let
$$ S_U= \{u \in C^{\infty}(U)\,:\, \Delta u =0 \quad\text{...
- 4,143
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Simultaneous Orthogonal basis for $L^2(\mathbb{R}^n)$ and $H^1(\mathbb{R}^n)$
Given a smooth bounded set $U\subset \mathbb{R}^n$, there is a simultaneous orthogonal basis for $L^2(U)$ and $H^1_0(U)$ by the existence of eigenvectors to the Laplacian in a bounded domain, which ...
user47808
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Density of smooth functions on Hölder spaces
The following result is often cited without reference in the context of PDEs:
Let $\varOmega \subset\mathbb R^n$ be a bounded open set with smooth boundary. If $0<\beta<\alpha<1$ then $C^\...
- 727
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Rate of convergence of smooth mollifiers
How does one figure out/prove the rate of convergence (in some norm) of mollifiers given a function bounded in some other norm (say Sobolev space, Besov space)? Also, is there a dimensional analysis ...
- 2,243
9
votes
1
answer
639
views
Prove J.L. Lions’s Lemma without using Fourier transform
When I read the book Linear and Nonlinear Functional Analysis with Applications, I came across J.L. Lions's Lemma (the book doesn't give a proof), which states
Let $\Omega \subset \mathbb R^n$ be a ...
- 807
9
votes
2
answers
418
views
Reference request: Parabolic Equations
I am a PhD student working mainly on Elliptic Equations. With the other PhDs of my department, we organised a reading group, meaning that we agreed on a book we were all interested in, we meet weekly ...
- 452
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Traces of Sobolev spaces
Is there a simple proof of the following fact?
Theorem. Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n$ be a bounded and smooth domain. If $n>2$, then $W^{1,n-1}(\partial\Omega)\subset
W^{1-\frac{1}{n},n}(\...
- 28k