All Questions
12,776 questions
24
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can Hölder's Inequality be strengthened for smooth functions?
Is there an $\epsilon>0$ so that for every nonnegative integrable function $f$ on the reals,
$$\frac{\| f \ast f \|_\infty \| f \ast f \|_1}{\|f \ast f \|_2^2} > 1+\epsilon?$$
Of course, we ...
- 9,756
24
votes
3
answers
2k
views
The third axiom in the definition of (infinite-dimensional) vector bundles: why?
Serge Lang's Differential and Riemannian Manifolds is a no doubt the best available reference for the theory of not-necessarily-finite-dimensional differential manifolds, but unfortunately it suffers ...
- 243
24
votes
1
answer
4k
views
analytic vs. algebraic Gauss-Manin connection
There are the following two notions of "Gauss-Manin connection":
The complex-analytic one: let $f:X\to S$ be a smooth family of complex manifolds. Then we obtain a local system $R^nf_{\ast}\...
- 1,288
24
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How many ways are there to globalize Harish Chandra modules?
Suppose $G$ a reductive Lie group with finitely many connected components, and suppose in addition that the connected component $G^0$ of the identity can be expressed as a finite cover of a linear Lie ...
- 4,909
24
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is there a 'certainty' principle?
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is a restriction on which probability distributions can describe the position and momentum of a quantum particle.
In mathematical terms it says that if $\psi\in L^2$ ...
- 3,137
23
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Why do we have two theorems when one implies the other?
Why do we have two theorems one for the density of $C^{\infty}_c(\mathbb{R}^n)$ in $L^p(\mathbb{R}^n)$ and one for the density of $C^{\infty}_c(\Omega)$ in $L^p(\Omega)$? with $\Omega$ an open subset ...
23
votes
5
answers
11k
views
Example of continuous function that is analytic on the interior but cannot be analytically continued?
I am looking for an example of a function $f$ that is 1) continuous on the closed unit disk, 2) analytic in the interior and 3) cannot be extended analytically to any larger set. A concrete example ...
- 757
23
votes
8
answers
8k
views
Grothendieck on topological vector spaces
In a short biography article on Alexander Grothendieck, it is mentioned that after Grothendieck submitted his first thesis on topological vector spaces (TVS), apparently, he told Bernard Malgrange ...
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
5
answers
4k
views
Understanding/Mastering Analysis in Topology, necessary?
I have spoken to one professor so far about this, which of course was helpful, and so I am looking for additional opinions: To work with topological tools that were built via analysis, should I be a "...
- 17.5k
23
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Lower bounding $|1+z+\cdots + z^{n-1}|$ when $z\approx 1$
I am trying to lower bound $|1+z+\cdots + z^{n-1}|$ when $z$ is a complex number close to $1$ (and $n$ is sufficiently large). My main concern occurs in the case $z = 1 + it$, where $t$ is small. In ...
- 347
23
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Most general definition of differentiation
There are various differentiations/derivatives.
For example,
Exterior derivative $df$ of a smooth function $f:M\to \mathbb{R}$
Differentiation $Tf:TM\to TN$ of a smooth function between manifolds $f:...
- 361
23
votes
1
answer
5k
views
On equation $f(z+1)-f(z)=f'(z)$
Original Problem
If $f$ is an entire function such that
$$ f(z+1)-f(z)=f'(z) $$
for all $z$.
Is there a non-trivial solution? ($f(z)=az+b$ is trivial)
And here is something uncertainty
If we use ...
- 1,551
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
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
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
23
votes
2
answers
975
views
Does Rademacher's convergent series for p(n) define an analytic function?
Let $p(n)$ be the number of partitions of $n\geq 0$. We can let $n$ be
any complex number in Rademacher's convergent infinite series for
$p(n)$. (See e.g. equation (24) here.)
For what $n$ does it ...
- 50.8k
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
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
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 ...
- 9,823
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
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
2
answers
7k
views
What is a Gaussian measure?
Let $X$ be a topological affine space. A Gaussian measure on $X$ is characterized by the property that its finite-dimensional projections are multivariate Gaussian distributions.
Is there a direct ...
- 8,512
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
23
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Structures of the space of neural networks
A neural network can be considered as a function
$$\mathbf{R}^m\to\mathbf{R}^n\quad
\text{by}\quad x\mapsto w_N\sigma(h_{N-1}+w_{N-1}\sigma(\dotso h_2+w_2\sigma(h_1+w_1 x)\dotso)),$$
where the $w_i$ ...
- 333
23
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Which smooth compactly supported functions are convolutions?
If $f,g$ are smooth functions with support in the interval $[-r,r]$ for some $r>0$, then their convolution $f*g$ is smooth with support in $[-2r,2r]$. My question is about the converse: Given ...
- 1,017
23
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Theta functions on an elliptic curve and Serre duality
Given an elliptic curve $E$ (over $\mathbb{C}$) and line bundle $L$, one can identify $H^0(E,L)$ with a particular space of theta functions.
Serre duality gives a perfect pairing between $H^0(E,L)$ ...
- 411
23
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How do mathematicians and physicists think of SL(2,R) acting on Gaussian functions?
Let $\mathcal{N}(\mu,\sigma^2)$ denote the Gaussian distribution on $\mathbb{R}$:
$$ \mathcal{N}(\mu,\sigma^2)(x) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi\sigma^2}} e^{-\frac{(x-\mu)^2}{2\sigma^2}}.$$
A Gaussian ...
- 1,101
23
votes
1
answer
3k
views
More mysteries about the zeros of the Riemann zeta function
Update on 12/26/2020: I added the Appendix at the bottom: simplified formula for $|\zeta(s)|^2$, when $\frac{1}{2}<\Re(s)<1$.
Update on 1/5/2020: I added the section "more interesting ...
- 3,098
23
votes
0
answers
717
views
Which proofs of the fundamental theorem of algebra are "essentially the same" vs. "essentially different"?
The classic MO thread Ways to prove the fundamental theorem of algebra contains $60$ proofs of FTA, and I'm sure there are many more in the literature. It would be nice to have some way to organize ...
- 118k
23
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Laplace Transform in the context of Gelfand/Pontryagin
Questions:
Is there a class of objects (presumably related to locally compact abelian groups) for which the quasi-characters canonically generalize the Laplace transform?
If not, is there a ...
- 1,114
23
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Is analytic capacity inner regular?
For a compact set $K$ in the complex plane, define the analytic capacity of $K$ by
$$\gamma(K) := \sup |f'(\infty)|$$
where the supremum is taken over all functions $f$ holomorphic and bounded by $1$ ...
- 2,154
22
votes
13
answers
7k
views
Is there a "crash-course" book on Abelian varieties (e.g., an introduction for physicists)?
Hello,
In our (rather applied) theoretical physics research, we have encountered an important class of problems, which seem to require an understanding of Abelian functions (unfortunately, this ...
- 649
22
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Cardioid-looking curve, does it have a name?
The curve, given in polar coordinates as $r(\theta)=\sin(\theta)/\theta$
is plotted below.
This is similar to the classical cardioid, but it is not the same curve (the curve above is not even ...
- 15.8k
22
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Is $L^p(\mathbb{R})$ minus the zero function contractible?
Is $L^p(\mathbb{R}) \setminus 0$ contractible? My intuition says that the answer is yes, but I'm afraid that this is based on thinking of this as somehow similar to a limit of $\mathbb{R}^n \setminus ...
- 433
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
5
answers
3k
views
Unexpected applications of Dvoretzky's theorem
Dvoretzky's theorem is a classic of convex geometry. Recently at a conference in quantum information I learned (from Patrick Hayden's talk) about a nontrivial application of the theorem to a problem ...
- 2,449
22
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Reason for studying coherent sheaves on complex manifolds.
Hello everybody! I would be interested in knowing, what the reason is for investigating coherent sheaves on complex manifolds. By definition a sheaf $F$ on a complex manifold $X$ is coherent, when it ...
- 583
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
22
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Subspace of $L^2$ that lies in $L^\infty$
Let $E$ be a closed subspace of $L^2[0,1]$. Suppose that $E\subset{}L^\infty[0,1]$. Is it true that $E$ is finite dimensional?
PS. This is actually a question from the real analysis qualifier. I came ...
22
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Rigorous justification for this formal solution to $f(x+1)+f(x)=g(x)$
Let $g\in C(\Bbb R)$ be given, we want to find a solution $f\in C(\Bbb R)$ of the equation
$$
f(x+1) + f(x) = g(x).
$$
We may rewrite the equation using the right-shift operator $(Tf)(x) = f(x+1)$...
- 1,245
22
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Why should I look at the resolvent formalism and think it is a useful tool for spectral theory?
Wikipedia calls resolvent formalism a useful tool for relating complex analysis to studying the spectra of a linear operator on a Banach space. Sure, I believe you because I've seen results that use ...
- 393
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Anything special (historical?) about surface $x\cdot y\cdot z\ +\ x+y+z=0$?
QUESTION
I wanted to introduce and develop the complex logarithm from scratch. As the result I've arrived a couple of months ago at the following identity after which the road to complex logarithm is ...
- 7,500
22
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Why is Oka's coherence theorem a deep result?
This is a very naive question.
Let $X$ be a complex manifold. Let $\mathcal{O}_X$ be the structure sheaf of $X$, a sheaf of rings whose sections over opens $U\subset X$ are just the holomorphic ...
- 10.7k
22
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Hadamard factorization of L-functions
I have already asked this question here in a different form, but really need an answer.
Let $L(s)$ be a "standard" $L$-function, say with Euler product, functional equation, etc...
(Selberg ...
- 13.1k
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^...
- 39k
22
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Reference for Diagonalization Trick
There is a standard trick in analysis, where one chooses a subsequence, then a subsequence of that... and wants to get an eventual subsubsequence of all of them and you take the diagonal. I've always ...
- 827
22
votes
2
answers
652
views
Does every positive continuous function have a non-negative interpolating polynomial of every degree?
Let $f:[a,b] \to (0,\infty)$ be a continuous function. Then is it necessarily true that for every $n\ge 1$, we can find $n+1$ distinct points $\{x_0,x_1,...,x_n\}$ in $[a,b]$ such that the ...
- 1,209
22
votes
1
answer
745
views
The Mackey Topology on a Von Neumann Algebra
Every von Neumann algebra $\mathcal M$ is the dual of a unique Banach space $\mathcal M_* $. The Mackey topology on $\mathcal M$ is the topology of uniform convergence on weakly compact subsets of $\...
- 1,199
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Examples of loss of regularity by "creation of topology"
I would like to have a list as general as possible of examples of situations where the density of smooth objects into some "natural class" (the meaning of "natural" depending on the problem considered)...
- 2,041