All Questions
12,776 questions
20
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What is the origin of the term "spectrum" in mathematics?
The use of the term "spectrum" to denote the prime ideals of a ring originates from the case that the ring is, say, $\mathbb{C}[T]$ where $T$ is a linear operator on a finite-dimensional vector space; ...
- 118k
9
votes
3
answers
763
views
Approximating with translated Gaussians and low-frequency trig functions
Defining the translated Gaussians by $f_t(x)=\exp(-(x-t)^2)$ for $t,x\in\Bbb{R}$, we showed that the linear span of $\{f_t \mid 0 \le t < \epsilon\}$ is dense in $L^2(\Bbb{R})$, for any $\epsilon&...
- 524
23
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Analogue of the Chebyshev polynomials over C?
I've been driven up a wall by the following question: let p be a complex polynomial of degree d. Suppose that |p(z)|≤1 for all z such that |z|=1 and |z-1|≥δ (for some small δ>0). Then what's the ...
- 9,833
4
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Most important domains, extension theorems, and functions in several complex variables
For a new learner of several complex variables, the many domains (eg holomorphically convex, pseduconvex, Stein) and the many extension theorems (eg Riemann) and the many functions (plurisubharmonic) ...
user2529
6
votes
1
answer
726
views
The "ultimate" indefinite inner product space
This can be considered as a relative of Splitting a space into positive and negative parts.
Is there a real (non-trivial) vector space $V$, endowed with a nondegenerate symmetric bilinear pairing $\...
- 4,060
4
votes
1
answer
321
views
What functorial topologies are there on the space of linear maps between LCTVS?
Setup: we consider the category of locally convex topological vector spaces with morphisms as continuous linear maps. This time, I'm explicitly allowing the axiom of choice (or at least the Hahn-...
- 26.8k
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is the category of Banach spaces with contractions an algebraic theory?
Consider the category of Banach spaces with contractions as morphisms (weak, so $\|T\| \le 1$). Is this an algebraic theory?
I suspect that this is true. The "operations" will be weighted sums, ...
- 26.8k
71
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Barrelled, bornological, ultrabornological, semi-reflexive, ... how are these used?
I'm not a functional analyst (though I like to pretend that I am from time to time) but I use it and I think it's a great subject. But whenever I read about locally convex topological vector spaces, ...
- 26.8k
5
votes
2
answers
765
views
Can we distinguish the algebraic and continuous duals of a Banach space without choice (or HBT)?
The algebraic dual of a normed vector space is the space of all linear functionals to the ground field (either $\mathbb{R}$ or $\mathbb{C}$ for this question). The continuous dual is the subspace of ...
- 26.8k
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Conditional expectation of convolution product equals..
Let $X, Y$ be two $L^1$ random variables on the probablity space $(\Omega, \mathcal{F}, P)$. Let $\mathcal{G} \subset \mathcal{F}$ be a sub-$\sigma$-algebra.
Consider the conditional expectation ...
- 47
9
votes
1
answer
708
views
Hilbert spaces are induced by a bilinear form. How about n-linear forms?
A Hilbert space is a complete vector space equipped with scalar product, i.e. a symmetric positive definite bilinear form.
What if we replace 'bilinear' by 'n-linear'? One might wonder, whether the $...
- 5,327
2
votes
3
answers
946
views
How can I measure the Morse index in infinite dimensions?
Let $V$ be a vector space over $\mathbb R$, and $a: V\otimes V\to \mathbb R$ a symmetric bilinear pairing. Recall that the Morse index of $a$ is the maximal dimension of any subspace $V_- \subseteq V$...
- 54.6k
2
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Splitting a space into positive and negative parts
Let $V$ be a vector space over $\mathbb R$. A symmetric bilinear pairing on $V$ is a linear map $a: V\otimes V \to \mathbb R$. Because $\mathbb R$ is characteristic not-two, I will freely confuse ...
- 54.6k
74
votes
10
answers
18k
views
Why does the Gamma-function complete the Riemann Zeta function?
Defining $$\xi(s) := \pi^{-s/2}\ \Gamma\left(\frac{s}{2}\right)\ \zeta(s)$$ yields $\xi(s) = \xi(1 - s)$ (where $\zeta$ is the Riemann Zeta function).
Is there any conceptual explanation - or ...
- 12.3k
36
votes
6
answers
2k
views
When are some products of gamma functions algebraic numbers?
I want to know when certain expressions of the form
$ {\Gamma(r_1/m) \Gamma(r_2/m) \ldots \Gamma(r_j/m) \over \Gamma(s_1/m) \Gamma(s_2/m) \ldots \Gamma(s_j/m)} $
are algebraic numbers. These ...
- 14k
4
votes
3
answers
609
views
When is $A : C(X) \to C(Y)$ a composition operator?
A composition operator $C\_T : C(X) \to C(Y)$ with $T \in C(Y, X)$ is defined by $C\_T f := f \circ T, f \in C(X)$.
I read in the book about Composition Operators by Singh and others that a ...
- 1,338
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Inversion of Laurent series
For a power series $f(z) = \sum_{i=0}^{\infty} a_i z^i$ with $a_1$ nonzero, Lagrange's inversion formula gives an explicit way to compute the Taylor coefficients of the inverse function.
Is there any ...
- 21k
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is a projective space?
Is there a "recognition principle" for projective spaces?
What categories are there with projective spaces for objects?
Background: Although the title is a nod to What is a metric space?, ...
- 26.8k
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is Dependent Choice all we really need?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axiom_of_dependent_choice
Is DC sufficient for the understanding of objects that are countable in some suitable sense?
For example, is DC sufficient for the full ...
- 1,199
11
votes
2
answers
862
views
Monotone Lipschitz embedding ?
In 1974, Aharoni proved that every separable metric space (X, d) is Lipschitz isomorphic to a subset of the Banach space c_0.
Thus, for some constant L, there is a map K: X --> c_0 that satisfies the ...
- 4,060
4
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Generalize Fourier transform to other basis than trigonometric function
The Fourier transform of periodic function $f$ yields a $l^2$-series of the functions coefficients when represented as countable linear combination of $\sin$ and $\cos$ functions.
In how far can this ...
- 5,327
6
votes
1
answer
780
views
What is the origin of this positive matrix characterization of bounded analytic functions on the unit disk?
Background: Let $S$ denote the so-called Schur class of complex analytic functions from the open unit disk $D$ in $\mathbb{C}$ to the closed unit disk $\overline{D}$. Given distinct points $z_1,\...
- 7,329
45
votes
7
answers
16k
views
What is an intuitive view of adjoints? (version 2: functional analysis)
After realising that I don't have an intuitive understanding of adjoint functors, I then realised that I don't have an intuitive understanding of adjoint linear transformations!
Again, I can use 'em, ...
- 26.8k
3
votes
1
answer
263
views
Asymptotically multiplicative functions and matrices
Hi,
Let $\mathbb{N}_{cop}^2$ denote the set of all pairs of coprime natural numbers. A function $f:\mathbb{C}\rightarrow\mathbb{C}$ is called asymptotically multiplicative, iff $\epsilon_{m,n}:=f(mn)...
- 7,127
18
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What are the right categories of finite-dimensional Banach spaces?
This is inspired partly by this question, especially Tom Leinster's answer.
Let me start with some background. I apologize that this will be rather long, since I'm hoping for input from people who ...
- 11.4k
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Explicitly describing extreme points of infinite dimensional convex sets
I am currently trying to apply some results from Choquet theory - i.e., the generalisation of results by Minkowski and Krein-Milman for representing points in a compact, convex set C by probability ...
- 325
6
votes
3
answers
324
views
Inverses in convolution algebras
Let $G$ be a locally compact totally disconnected group, and to make life easy let's suppose its Haar measure is bi-invariant. Let $C_c(G)$ be the space of locally constant complex functions on $G$ ...
- 2,713
11
votes
7
answers
1k
views
What are some interesting ways of making new metrics out of old metrics?
If $d(x,y)$ and $e(x,y)$ are metrics then $d(x,y)+e(x,y)$ and $\frac{d(x,y)}{1+d(x,y)}$ are metrics.
If $d_i(x,y)$ for $i=1,\dots,n$ are metrics then so is $\sqrt{\sum_{i=1}^n{d_i^2(x,y)}}$
Are ...
- 3,613
5
votes
3
answers
230
views
Is the Fell-Doran problem trivial in a topological setting?
The Fell-Doran problem is a problem in functional analysis. It goes as follows: Let $A$ be a complex unital algebra, $X$ a locally convex space, and $L(X)$ the algebra of all continuous endomorphisms ...
- 1,821
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is there a use for a Hilbert space that uses a different norm than the one induced by the inner product?
$l_1$ minimization / compressed sensing comes to mind. Does anyone have any concrete examples? Or is such a construct completely useless?
- 49
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Closed, complemented subspaces of $l^1(X)$ when $X$ is uncountable
... are all isomorphic to $l^1$ on some other index set. At least, that much I "know" from 2nd-hand sources, since the original proof is apparently in a paper of Köthe from the 1930s 1960s (in ...
- 25.8k
65
votes
14
answers
6k
views
Notions of convergence not corresponding to topologies
This question concerns the ramifications of the following interesting problem that
appeared on Ed Nelson's final exam on Functional Analysis some years ago:
Exam question: Is there a metric on the ...
- 801
9
votes
1
answer
695
views
Asymptotics of Power Series With Branch Singularities
I am wondering if there are analytic tools to find asymptotic formulae for the coefficients of a complex power series of a function with branch singularities. For example, it is possible to show ...
- 740
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
20
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Basis of l^infinity
Is it possible to exhibit a (Hamel) basis for the vector space l^infinity, given by the bounded sequences of real numbers?
- 1,638
8
votes
1
answer
638
views
Composite residues with determinant denominators
I am looking for a good reference on composite residues of multi-variable contour integrals (something better and more explicit than Griffiths and Harris or Tsikh). This means I want to evaluate $\...
- 81
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the maximum domain to which a Dirichlet series can be continued always a halfplane?
Let $f(s)=\sum_n a_n n^{-s}$ be a Dirichlet series whose coefficients satisfy $\lvert a_n\rvert\leq n^{C}$. Then $f(s)$ converges absolutely in some halfplanes, and is conditionally convergent in (...
- 7,836
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are smooth functions on an uncountable sum continuous?
Consider the linear space $\sum_{\mathbb{R}} \mathbb{R}$. As in the Frolicher-Kriegl-Michor view, we make this into a Frolicher space as follows.
Equip it with the locally convex topology of the ...
- 26.8k
5
votes
0
answers
533
views
Two meromorphic functions with overlapping sets of poles
Assume that we have two meromorphic functions $f(z,w)$ and $g(z,w)$, where $z$ and $w$ are complex (we are interested only in behavior on compact sets). Fix $z$ and assume that the sets of poles of $f(...
- 228
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Can one do without Riesz Representation?
In more detail, can one establish that the continuous linear dual of a Hilbert space is again a Hilbert space without appealing to the Riesz Representation Theorem?
For me, the Riesz Representation ...
- 26.8k
3
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Dolbeault cohomology
Hello
I am trying to get a good book that explains the Dolbeault Cohomology, does anyone know of a good one?
- 143
3
votes
0
answers
383
views
Neglect of Compact Quantum Metric Spaces [closed]
Does anyone have an opinion on Rieffel's theory of compact quantum metric spaces? To me it seems to be a very interesting new area of mathematics. It shows how to generalise complicated geometric ...
- 1,462
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Gelfand-Naimark from the category-theoretic point of view
I was thinking about the Gelfand-Naimark theorem asserting the isometric * isomorphism between a commutative $C^*$-algebra (with unit) $\mathcal{A}$ and the $C^*$ -algebra of continuous complex-valued ...
- 2,479
1
vote
3
answers
2k
views
Various Cartan's Lemmata
I am a bit amazed by "Cartan's Lemma".. I have so far seen it in :
Algebraic Geometry sources:
Look at Proposition 2.9 of Freitag and Kiehl's Étale Cohomology where he used étale morphism to describe ...
- 2,275
5
votes
3
answers
753
views
Regularity of sparse Fourier transforms
Suppose $F$ has discrete Fourier transform $(a_n)$ where $a_n=0$ unless $n=2^k$ for some $k > 0$, in which case $a_n=1/k$ (or $a_n=1/k^2$ if you want: I'm happy with anything polynomial). What ...
- 18.7k
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
22
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Elementary solutions to f(z+1)-f(z)=g(z) in entire functions
Let g(z) be an entire function of a complex variable z. Does there exist an entire function f(z) such that f(z+1)-f(z)=g(z)? As I learned several years back, the answer to this is apparently 'yes', ...
- 7,836
74
votes
15
answers
18k
views
$f(f(x))=\exp(x)-1$ and other functions "just in the middle" between linear and exponential
The question is about the function $f(x)$ so that $f(f(x))=\exp (x)-1$.
The question is open ended and it was discussed quite recently in the comment thread in Aaronson's blog here http://...
- 24.7k
21
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there an L^p tauberian theorem?
From Wiener's tauberian theorem we know that linear combinations of translates of f \in L^1(R) are dense in L^1(R) if and only if the Fourier transform of f never vanishes. It is also known that ...
- 13k
2
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What function has fourier series the harmonic series?
I know that this is on the boundaries of what's allowed, but hopefully someone'll answer before it gets closed!
What (periodic) function has Fourier series the harmonic series? I really want the ...
- 26.8k