All Questions
1,154 questions
39
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Why is there a connection between enumerative geometry and nonlinear waves?
Recently I encountered in a class the fact that there is a generating function of Gromov–Witten invariants that satisfies the Korteweg–de Vries hierarchy. Let me state the fact more precisely. ...
- 1,589
20
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Question about functional derivatives
This page on Wikipedia defines the so-called functional derivative as follows: "Given a manifold $M$ representing (continuous/smooth) functions $\rho$ (with certain boundary conditions, etc.) and a ...
- 3,515
25
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Fourier transform of the unit sphere
The Fourier transform of the volume form of the (n-1)-sphere in $\mathbf R^n$ is given by the well-known formula
$$
\int_{S^{n-1}}e^{i\langle\mathbf a,\mathbf u\rangle}d\sigma(\mathbf u) = (2\pi)^{\nu ...
- 31.5k
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Elliptic operators corresponds to non vanishing vector fields
Added, June 19, 2019: The main motivation of this post is to associate an index to differential operator associated to a dynamical system such that the index has an interesting ...
- 356
41
votes
4
answers
16k
views
Product of Borel sigma algebras
If $X$ and $Y$ are separable metric spaces, then the Borel $\sigma$-algebra $B(X \times Y)$ of the product is the $\sigma$-algebra generated by $B(X)\times B(Y)$. I am embarrassed to admit that I ...
- 31.5k
5
votes
1
answer
630
views
Infinite dimensional involutions: infinitely large sets of multivariate polynomials self-inverse under self-substitution
Examples of infinite dimensional involutions
Edit 2/25/23, as suggested by YCOR below: (Start)
The first return on a Google search on involution--from late Latin 'a rolling up'--gives the Oxford ...
- 10.5k
45
votes
7
answers
9k
views
What's an example of a space that needs the Hahn-Banach Theorem?
The Hahn-Banach theorem is rightly seen as one of the Big Theorems in functional analysis. Indeed, it can be said to be where functional analysis really starts. But as it's one of those "there ...
- 26.8k
8
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Ramanujan's Master Formula: A proof and relation to umbral calculus
The Ramanujan's master theorem states that:
$$
\int_0^{\infty}x^{s-1}\sum_{n=0}^{\infty}\frac{(-1)^n}{n!}a_nx^ndx=\Gamma(s)a_{-s}
$$
I found a really strange proof recently on a personal blog:
Define
$...
- 302
40
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Is there a natural measures on the space of measurable functions?
Given a set Ω and a σ-algebra F of subsets, is there some natural way to assign something like a "uniform" measure on the space of all measurable functions on this space? (I suppose first ...
- 1,475
32
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Can distribution theory be developed Riemann-free?
I imagine most people who frequent MO have been indoctrinated into the point of view that the Riemann integral can be safely discarded once one has taken the time to develop the Lebesgue integral. ...
- 29.2k
27
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Nice applications for Schwartz distributions
I am to teach a second year grad course in analysis with focus on Schwartz distributions. Among the core topics I intend to cover are:
Some multilinear algebra including the Kernel Theorem and ...
51
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Unconditional nonexistence for the heat equation with rapidly growing data?
Consider the initial value problem
$$ \partial_t u = \partial_{xx} u$$
$$ u(0,x) = u_0(x)$$
for the heat equation in one dimension, where $u_0: {\bf R} \to {\bf R}$ is a smooth initial datum and $u: [...
- 114k
28
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Almost orthogonal vectors
This is to do with high dimensional geometry, which I'm always useless with. Suppose we have some large integer $n$ and some small $\epsilon>0$. Working in the unit sphere of $\mathbb R^n$ or $\...
- 18.7k
26
votes
6
answers
8k
views
prime ideals in C([0,1])
It is clear that each maximal ideal in ring of continuous functions over $[0,1]\subset \mathbb R$ corresponds to a point and vice-versa.
So, for each ideal $I$ define $Z(I) =\{x\in [0,1]\,|\,f(x)=0, ...
- 5,063
23
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Density of smooth functions under "Hölder metric"
This question came up when I was doing some reading into convolution squares of singular measures. Recall a function $f$ on the torus $T = [-1/2,1/2]$ is said to be $\alpha$-Hölder (for $0 < \alpha ...
- 505
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
When is a given matrix of two forms a curvature form?
Let's assume we are working over $\mathbb{R}^n$ (but feel free to change to domain to answer the question). I wish to know if the equation $F = dA + A \wedge A$ can be solved for a matrix of 1-forms $...
- 3,383
11
votes
3
answers
883
views
Reference request: Systems of linear PDES with constant coefficients
I am looking for a reference for the following statement:
Assume that $P_1, \dots, P_k \in \mathbb R[x_1, \dots, x_m]$ and consider a system of PDEs
\begin{align}
P_i(\partial / \partial x_1, \dots, \...
- 241
5
votes
1
answer
500
views
Hausdorff dimension of the graph of a BV function
Let $u: \Omega\subset \mathbb{R}^N \to \mathbb{R}^M$ be a $BV$ function.
Is the Hausdorff dimension of the graph of $u$ equal to $N$? How can we prove it?
Update.
In an answer to this post, it ...
- 839
4
votes
1
answer
848
views
Does $P_xP_y+Q_xQ_y=0 \implies$ "non-existence of limit cycle" for $P\partial_x+Q\partial_y$"? (Complex dilatation and limit cycle theory)
Let $X=P\partial_x+Q\partial_y$ be a vector field on the plane $\mathbb{R}^2$. Assume that we have :$$P_xP_y+Q_xQ_y=0$$ Does this imply that the vector field $X$ is a divergence-free vector field ...
- 356
126
votes
15
answers
15k
views
Does Physics need non-analytic smooth functions?
Observing the behaviour of a few physicists "in nature", I had the impression that among the mathematical tools they use a lot (along with possibly much more sofisticated maths, of course), ...
- 23.3k
71
votes
16
answers
21k
views
Is there a nice application of category theory to functional/complex/harmonic analysis?
[Title changed, and wording of question tweaked, by YC, because the original title asked a question which seems different from the one people want to answer.]
I've read looked at the examples in most ...
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Functional approach vs jet approach to Lagrangian field theory
Context: I am a PhD student in theoretical physics with higher-than-average education on differential geometry. I am trying to understand Lagrangian and Hamiltonian field theories and related concepts ...
- 2,792
23
votes
2
answers
3k
views
States in C*-algebras and their origin in physics?
in $C^*-$algebras with unit element, there is the definition of a state, as a functional $\omega$ with $\omega(e)=||\omega||=1.$
Now, of course there is also in classical physics and quantum ...
- 243
19
votes
5
answers
2k
views
"Physical" construction of nonconstant meromorphic functions on compact Riemann surfaces?
Miranda's book on Riemann surfaces ignores the analytical details of proving that compact Riemann surfaces admit nonconstant meromorphic functions, preferring instead to work out the algebraic ...
- 118k
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Uniform boundedness of an $L^2[0,1]$-ONB in $C[0,1]$
Assume that we have an orthonormal basis of smooth functions in $L^2[0,1]$. Are there useful practical criteria to determine whether the sup-norm of the basis functions has a uniform bound? I am sure ...
- 4,729
10
votes
2
answers
925
views
Isomorphisms between spaces of test functions and sequence spaces
I am in the process of writing some self-contained notes on probability theory in spaces of distributions, for the purposes of statistical mechanics and quantum field theory. Perhaps the simplest ...
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Harmonic oscillator discrete spectrum
Let us act intentionally stupid and assume we do not know that we can solve for the spectrum of the harmonic oscillator
$$-\frac{d^2}{dx^2}+x^2$$
explicitly.
Is there an abstract argument why the ...
- 501
5
votes
1
answer
699
views
Can $L^1_{loc}$ be represented as colimit?
Let $L^1_{loc}$ denote the set of all functions from $\mathbb{R}$ to itself which are locally integrable. For every infinite compact subset $K\subseteq \mathbb{R}$, let $L^1_{m_K}$ denote the space ...
- 5,405
5
votes
2
answers
321
views
If the Hausforff dimension of the graph of a function $u$ is $N$ and $\tilde u = u$ a.e. then $\dim_H \mathrm{graph} \, \tilde u = N$ too
Let $\Omega$ be an open (non empty) set and $u:\Omega \subset \mathbb{R}^N \to \mathbb{R}^M$ be a function such that the Hausdorff dimension of its graph is $N$.
Let $\tilde u = u$ a.e. Is it true ...
- 839
5
votes
1
answer
414
views
Fredholm index vs. Limit cycle theory
Let $A$ be the algebra of all smooth functions $f: \mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ such that $f$ is flat at the origin and is real analytic on $\mathbb{R}^2 \setminus \{0\}$.
Let $B $ be ...
- 356
4
votes
1
answer
597
views
Meaning of Alberti rank-one theorem
Heuristically what does Alberti's rank-one theorem imply about the structure of a $\mathrm{BV}$ vector field $\boldsymbol{b}$?
Is it rigorously fair to say that the level lines of $\boldsymbol{b}$ ...
user123457
2
votes
0
answers
187
views
Role of absolute continuity of divergence of BV function in proof of renormalization property
In the paper http://cvgmt.sns.it/paper/436/, the author proves the renormalization property for the flow generated by a vector field $a(t,\cdot) \in BV(\mathbb{R}^N; \mathbb{R}^N)$.
Heuristically, ...
- 839
77
votes
7
answers
21k
views
What is the symbol of a differential operator?
I find Wikipedia's discussion of symbols of differential operators a bit impenetrable, and Google doesn't seem to turn up useful links, so I'm hoping someone can point me to a more pedantic discussion....
- 54.6k
53
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Pullback measures
Why do all measure theory textbooks present the concept of push-forward measure, but never the concept of pull-back measure? Doesn't the latter exist?
It's true that the naive treatment of such a ...
- 5,407
44
votes
10
answers
47k
views
Is square of Delta function defined somewhere?
I am wondering whether anyone knows if the square of Dirac Delta function is defined somewhere.
In the beginning, this question might look strange. But by restricting the space of the test functions, ...
33
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Reference request for translating from Top to C*-alg
Some recent questions on MO (for example, Do subalgebras of C(X) admit a description in terms of the compact Hausdorff space X?) have been about Gelfand duality — namely, that the categories of ...
- 18.7k
29
votes
1
answer
3k
views
The Riemann zeros and the heat equation
The Riemann xi function $\Xi(x)$ is defined, with $s=1/2+ix$, as
$$
\Xi(x)=\frac12 s(s-1)\pi^{-s/2}\Gamma(s/2)\zeta(s)=2\int_0^\infty \Phi(u)\cos(ux) \, du,
$$
where $\Phi(u)$ is defined as
$$
2\sum_{...
- 11.1k
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
27
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Criteria for boundedness of power series
Consider a power series $\sum_{n=0}^{\infty} a_n x^n$ that is convergent for all real
x, thus defining a function $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$.
Can one give necessary and sufficient criteria the ...
- 4,014
23
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Which $\ast$-algebras are $C^\ast$-algebras?
It's well-known that the norm on a $C^\ast$-algebra is uniquely determined by the underlying $\ast$-algebra by the spectral radius formula. Therefore there should be a way to axiomatize $C^\ast$-...
- 63.9k
23
votes
4
answers
5k
views
Are proper linear subspaces of Banach spaces always meager?
Let X be a Banach space, and let Y be a proper non-meager linear subspace of X. If Y is not dense in X, then it is easy to see that the closure of Y has empty interior, contradicting Y being non-...
- 353
23
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Hahn-Banach without Choice
The standard proof of the Hahn-Banach theorem makes use of Zorn's lemma. I hear that, however, Hahn-Banach is strictly weaker than Choice. A quick search leads to many sources stating that Hahn-Banach ...
- 1,202
23
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Which Fréchet spaces have a dual that is a Fréchet space?
I've read the claim that Fréchet spaces that are not Banach spaces never have a dual that is a Fréchet space, but have not been able to find a proof of this statement. Is it trivial or does someone ...
- 1,544
20
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Ideals of the ring of smooth functions
The ring $C^\infty(M)$ of smooth functions on a smooth manifold $M$ is a topological ring with respect to the Whitney topology and the usual ring operations. Is it possible to describe, maybe under ...
- 101
20
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Does the derivative of log have a Dirac delta term?
Dirac writes down the following formula on page 61 of his "Principles of quantum mechanics":
$\frac{d}{dx}\log x = \frac{1}{x} -i\pi\delta(x)$, see http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1947pqm..book.....D ...
- 16.6k
19
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can we take a supremum over all Hilbert spaces?
In my paper On the optimal error bound for the first step in the method of cyclic alternating projections, I defined functions $f_n:[0,1]\to\mathbb{R}$,
$n\geqslant 2$, by
$$
f_n(c)=\sup\{\|P_n\dotsm ...
- 935
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What (classes of) Banach spaces are known to have Schauder basis?
Motivation:
I am trying to see for what class of Banach spaces the following result is true:
There exists an increasing sequence of finite dimensional subspace {$V_n$} of a Banach space X (with ...
- 365
16
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Measure theory treatment geared toward the Riesz representation theorem
I'm looking for recommendations for books (or lecture notes) that develop measure theory in sufficient detail to state and prove the Riesz representation theorem (which is the characterization of the ...
- 21.5k
16
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is there a maximum to the amount of disjoint non-measurable subsets of the unit interval with full outer measure?
This question arose a few years back when I was an assistant teacher on a course of basic (Lebesgue) measure theory, but I didn't find an answer or anyone able to solve the problem. The setting of the ...
- 588
15
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Universal $C^*$-algebra with generators and relations
We say that the $C^*$-algebra $A$ generated by $a_1,...,a_n$ is universal subject to relations $R_1,...,R_m$ if for every $C^*$-algebra $B$ with elements $b_1,...,b_n$ satisfying relations $R_1,...,...
- 9,330