All Questions
980 questions
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Symmetric basis of harmonic homogeneous polynomials
Recently, a question about the beautiful theory of harmonic polynomials made me aware there is something
I've wanted to know for a long time.
As is well known, for any number of variables $n$ and any ...
- 60.5k
6
votes
1
answer
474
views
Proof that $L^2(0,T;X)^* = L^2(0,T;X^*)$
How is the proof that
$$[L^2(0,T;X)]' = L^2(0,T;X')$$
looking like, where $X$ is a Hilbert space? I am asking for the proof that the dual space of $L^2(0,T;X)$ is the space $L^2(0,T;X^*)$.
Is the ...
- 83
6
votes
1
answer
696
views
Reference request: optimal $L^p$ regularity for solutions to $-\Delta u=f$ with $f\in L^1(R^d)$
The tilte says it all. Given $f\in L^1(R^d)$ (let me restrict to dimension $d\geq 3$ for convenience), what is the optimal $L^p$ regularity for solutions to
$$
-\Delta u=f\hspace{3cm}(1)?
$$
I'm of ...
- 5,380
5
votes
0
answers
198
views
Heuristic and graphic representation of BV functions and their singularities
This question is about some heuristics and graphs of BV functions.
In 1-dimensional setting, two key examples of $BV$ functions $u: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ are
the Heaviside function, whose ...
- 839
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the space of signed finite measures on a compact set $M([0,1])$ a sequential space?
Let $M([0,1])$ be the set of finite signed measures on $[0,1]$
(with the topology generated by the sets $\left\{ \mu \in M([0,1]) : \left| \int f(x) \mu(dx)- a\right| \leq \delta\right\}$ for all $\...
- 95
5
votes
1
answer
395
views
Universal decay rate of the Fisher information along the heat flow
I'm looking for a reference for the following fact: In the torus $\mathbb T^d$ let me denote by $u_t=u(t,x)$ the (unique, distributional) solution of the heat equation
$$
\partial_t u=\Delta u
$$
...
- 5,380
3
votes
2
answers
968
views
Can one estimate the distribution of eigenvalues of a matrix by its Cauchy/Stieltje transform?
Given a real symmetric $n$ dimensional matrix $A$, with eigenvalues $\lambda_i$ I am defining its Cauchy transform as the function, $f_A(z) = \sum_i \frac{1}{z-\lambda_i}\,$
Is there any information ...
- 617
3
votes
2
answers
949
views
Reference for proof that $C_b^* = rba$
The following theorem seems to have folk status:
The topological dual of the space $C_b(X)$ of bounded continuous functions on a topological space $X$ is isomorphic to the space $rba(X)$ of finite, ...
- 459
3
votes
0
answers
84
views
Convergence of the Gaussian integral on $\mathcal{E}'$ for a mapping supported on $L^2$
Let $F : L^2(S^1) \to L^2(S^1)$ be a (nonlinear) mapping such that
\begin{equation}
\lVert F(f) \rVert \leq \lVert f \rVert
\end{equation}
for all $f \in L^2(S^1)$. For the space of smooth periodic ...
- 3,477
2
votes
2
answers
351
views
Weak convergence for discrete-time processes using characteristic functions
I am looking for a good reference about the analogues of the Bochner Theorem and the Lévy Continuity Theorem
for probability measures on $\mathbb{R}^{\mathbb{N}}$ with the product topology.
...
2
votes
2
answers
317
views
Concrete example of BV function $u:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ with singular derivative
What are examples of two BV functions $u:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ with singular derivative?
More precisely, I'd like to see an example (and a plot using Mathematica or Matlab) of
a function
$$...
- 839
1
vote
0
answers
739
views
Finding a unique and finite expected value for almost all measurable functions?
Let $(X,d)$ be a metric space. If set $A\subseteq X$, let $H^{\alpha}$ be the $\alpha$-dimensional Hausdorff measure on $A$, where $\alpha\in[0,+\infty)$ and $\text{dim}_{\text{H}}(A)$ is the ...
- 63
81
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Did Gelfand's theory of commutative Banach algebras influence algebraic geometers?
Guillemin and Sternberg wrote the following in 1987 in a short article called "Some remarks on I.M. Gelfand's works" accompanying Gelfand's Collected Papers, Volume I:
The theory of commutative ...
- 7,329
81
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Norms of commutators
If an $n$ by $n$ complex matrix $A$ has trace zero, then it is a commutator, which means that there are $n$ by $n$ matrices $B$ and $C$ so that $A= BC-CB$. What is the order of the best constant $\...
- 31.5k
63
votes
5
answers
10k
views
Jean Bourgain's relatively lesser known significant contributions
Jean Bourgain passed away on December 22, 2018.
A great mathematician is no longer with us.
Terry Tao has blogged about Bourgain's death and mentioned some of his more recent significant contributions,...
51
votes
2
answers
5k
views
A strengthening of the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality
Suppose $\mathbf{v},\mathbf{w} \in \mathbb{R}^n$ (and if it helps, you can assume they each have non-negative entries), and let $\mathbf{v}^2,\mathbf{w}^2$ denote the vectors whose entries are the ...
- 6,351
48
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Is there an "elegant" non-recursive formula for these coefficients? Also, how can one get proofs of these patterns?
Not sure if this is a "good" question for this forum or if it'll get panned, but here goes anyway...
Consider this problem. I've been trying to find a formula to expand the "regular iteration" of "...
47
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Can we actually find any fixed points with Brouwer's theorem?
Background
At the risk of greatly oversimplifying matters, let me state a heuristic from Granas and Dugundji's beautiful book: fixed point theorems fall into two broad categories. The first class is ...
- 15.5k
43
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Can $L^p(\mathbb{R})$ and $ L^q(\mathbb{R})$ be isomorphic?
Let $p,q \in (1,\infty)$ with $p\neq q$. Are the Banach spaces $L^p(\mathbb{R})$, $L^q(\mathbb{R})$ isomorphic?
- 559
40
votes
5
answers
5k
views
"Entropy" proof of Brunn-Minkowski Inequality?
I read in an information theory textbook the Brunn-Minkowski inequality follows from the Entropy Power inequality.
The first one says that if $A,B$ are convex polygons in $\mathbb{R}^d$, then
$$ m(...
- 22.8k
39
votes
3
answers
14k
views
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 ...
- 1,241
38
votes
2
answers
13k
views
What, exactly, has Louis de Branges proved about the Riemann Hypothesis?
I know this is a dangerous topic which could attract many cranks and nutters, but:
According to Wikipedia [and probably his own website, but I have a hard time seeing exactly what he's claiming] Louis ...
- 1,990
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
35
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is it consistent with ZF that $V \to V^{\ast \ast}$ is always an isomorphism?
Let $k$ be a field and $V$ a $k$-vector space. Then there is a map $V \to V^{\ast \ast}$, where $V^{\ast}$ is the dual vector space. If we are in ZFC and $\dim V$ is infinite, then this map is not ...
- 156k
35
votes
2
answers
9k
views
tr(ab) = tr(ba)?
It is well known that given two Hilbert-Schmidt operators $a$ and $b$ on a Hilbert space $H$, their product is trace class and $tr(ab)=tr(ba)$. A similar result holds for $a$ bounded and $b$ trace ...
- 43.2k
34
votes
1
answer
3k
views
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$ ...
- 31.5k
34
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Theme of Isbell duality
Let $C$ be a small category. Isbell duality provides an adjunction $\widehat{C} {{\mathcal{O} \atop \longrightarrow} \atop {\longleftarrow \atop \mathrm{Spec}}}\widehat{C^{\mathrm{op}}}^{\mathrm{op}}$....
- 63.1k
32
votes
19
answers
23k
views
Good books on theory of distributions
Hi all.
I'm looking for english books with a good coverage of distribution theory.
I'm a fan of Folland's Real analysis, but it only gives elementary notions on distributions.
Thanks in advance.
32
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Are there non-reflexive vector spaces isomorphic to their bi-dual?
Let $V$ be an infinite dimensional topological vector space and consider the natural application $\iota\colon V\to V^{**}$. The space $V$ is said to be reflexive if $\iota$ is an isomorphism.
Are ...
- 7,902
28
votes
7
answers
13k
views
Regular borel measures on metric spaces
When teaching Measure Theory last year, I convinced myself that a finite measure defined on the Borel subsets of a (compact; separable complete?) metric space was automatically regular. I used the ...
- 18.7k
26
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Does Arzelà-Ascoli require choice?
Inspired by a recent Math.SE question entitled Where do we need the axiom of choice in Riemannian geometry?, I was thinking of the Arzelà--Ascoli theorem. Let's state a very simple version:
...
- 29.8k
26
votes
3
answers
2k
views
About the category of von neumann algebras
I am looking for one (or more) reference about properties of the category of von Neumann algebra.
More precisely, in an answer of a previous question, Dmitri Pavlov mentions
that the $W^*$ category ...
- 357
26
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Universality of zeta- and L-functions
Voronin´s Universality Theorem (for the Riemann zeta-Function) according to Wikipedia: Let $U$ be a compact subset of the "critical half-strip" $\{s\in\mathbb{C}:\frac{1}{2}<Re(s)<1\}$ with ...
- 7,127
25
votes
2
answers
2k
views
$f^3,f^2$ are the cube and quadratic of f respectively and both infinite differentiable on $R$,how to show so is $f$
Let $f$ be a real function with domain R.
If $f^2$ and $f^3$ are both infinitely differentiable on R,
how to prove $f$ is infinitely differentiable on R?
I have been thinking about this problem for a ...
- 295
25
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Quantum fields and infinite tensor products
As I understand it, a naive interpretation of the state space of a quantum field theory is an infinite tensor product
$$\otimes_{x\in M} H_x,$$
where $x$ runs over the points of space. This ...
- 13.6k
24
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Does left-invertible imply invertible in full group C*-algebras (discrete case)?
The following question/problem has been bugging me on and off for some time now: so I thought it might be worth broaching here on MO, as a case of "ask the experts".
Let $G$ be a discrete group. ...
- 25.8k
24
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is the Invariant Subspace Problem arithmetic?
Invariant Subspace Conjecture: A bounded operator on a separable Hilbert space has a non-trivial closed invariant subspace.
Can this conjecture be reformulated as an arithmetic statement, that is, $\...
- 6,891
23
votes
9
answers
2k
views
Nonseparable counterexamples in analysis
When asking for uncountable counterexamples in algebra I noted that in functional analysis there are many examples of things that “go wrong” in the nonseparable setting. But most of the examples I'm ...
23
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Are almost commuting hermitian matrices close to commuting matrices (in the 2-norm)?
I consider on $M_n(\mathbb C)$ the normalized $2$-norm, i.e. the norm given by $\|A\|_2 = \sqrt{\mathrm{Tr}(A^* A)/n}$.
My question is whether a $k$-uple of hermitian matrices that are almost ...
- 9,486
21
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Meager subspaces of a Banach space and weak-* convergence
I previously asked a version of this question on Math.SE, but didn't receive an answer. (But there is a bounty there if you want to claim it!)
Let $X$ be a Banach space. (If it helps, feel free to ...
- 29.8k
21
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Density of polynomials in $C^k(\overline\Omega)$
Let $\Omega$ be an open and bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ and let $C^k(\Omega)$, $1\leq k<\infty$, be the space of functions $f$ with continuous derivatives of order $\leq k$ in $\Omega$, ...
- 4,034
21
votes
5
answers
18k
views
When is Sobolev space a subset of the continuous functions?
If we let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^d$ with $d=1,2,3$ and define $\mathcal{H}^1(\Omega)=(w\in L_2(\Omega): \frac{\partial w}{\partial x_i}\in L_2(\Omega), i=1,...,d)$. My tutor has repeated several ...
- 3,217
21
votes
0
answers
732
views
Closed connected additive subgroups of the Hilbert space
It is a classical result that a closed and connected additive subgroup of $\mathbb{R}^n$ is necessarily a linear subspace. However, this is no longer true in infinite dimension: a very easy example is ...
- 60.5k
19
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Infinite convex combinations in a Banach space
Let's say that a subset $C$ of a Banach space $X$ is $\sigma$-convex if the following property holds:
For any sequence $(x_k)_{k\ge0}$ in $C$, and for
any sequence of non-negative real numbers $(\...
- 60.5k
18
votes
7
answers
4k
views
What are known examples of positive but not completely positive maps?
The only example I know of a positive map which is not completely positive is the transpose map on $M_n(\mathbb{C})$. Of course, one can come up with minor perturbations of this (compose it with, or ...
- 275
18
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Unbounded linear operator defined on $l^2$
Let $l^2$ be a Hilbert space of infinite sequences $(z_0, z_1, \cdots)$ with finite $\sum_{i=0}^{\infty} |z_i|^2$.
Are there any simple example of unbounded linear opearator $T: l^2 \to l^2$ with $D(...
- 2,821
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
5
answers
3k
views
Conditional probabilities are measurable functions - when are they continuous?
Let $\Omega$ be a Banach space; for the sake of this post, we will take $\Omega = {\mathbb R}^2$, but I am more interested in the infinite dimensional setting. Take $\mathcal F$ to be the Borel $\...
- 8,512
17
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Positive-Definite Functions and Fourier Transforms
Bochner's theorem states that a positive definite function is the Fourier transform of a finite Borel measure. As well, an easy converse of this is that a Fourier transform must be positive definite.
...
- 4,952
17
votes
3
answers
905
views
Existence of translation-invariant basis on $C_c(\mathbb R)$
Consider the space $C_c(\mathbb R)$ of complex-valued continuous functions of compact support. This is a vector space over $\mathbb C$, and I am not considering any topology, so the question is ...
- 2,071