All Questions
1,031 questions
10
votes
1
answer
833
views
This is not a dyadic cosine-product
The double-angle formula, $\sin2x=2\sin x\cos x$, turns the scary-looking integral
$$\int_0^{\infty}dz\prod_{k=1}^{\infty}\cos\frac{z}{2^k}$$
into fun once you realize $\prod_k\cos\frac{z}{2^k}=\frac{\...
- 43.2k
9
votes
1
answer
475
views
Error term in Davenport's sum $\sum_{n \leq x } \mu(n) \exp(2 \pi i \alpha n ) $
Reference request:
Davenport proved that for every fixed $N>1 $ one has $$ \sup_{\alpha \in \mathbb R } \left | \sum_{1\leq n \leq x } \mu(n) \exp(2 \pi i \alpha n )\right | = O_N\left( \frac{x}{(\...
- 3,062
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Density of smooth functions on Hölder spaces
The following result is often cited without reference in the context of PDEs:
Let $\varOmega \subset\mathbb R^n$ be a bounded open set with smooth boundary. If $0<\beta<\alpha<1$ then $C^\...
- 727
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Generalizations and relative applications of Fekete's subadditive lemma
Fekete's (subadditive) lemma takes its name from a 1923 paper by the Hungarian mathematician Michael Fekete [1]. A historical overview and references to (a couple of) generalizations and applications ...
- 10.5k
8
votes
1
answer
716
views
A non-hyperfinite type III factor from an action of the free group on the circle
We define below a von Neumann algebra $\mathcal{M}$ from an action of the free group on the circle, and we prove that $\mathcal{M}$ is a non-hyperfinite type ${\rm III}$ factor.
Question : Is $\...
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the Fourier transform of $e^{-|x|^n}$ positive?
Let
$$\Phi(x) = \int_{\mathbf{R}^n} e^{-|y|^n +i (x,y)} dy.$$
Is $\Phi$ positive everywhere in $\mathbf{R}^n$?
Could someone helps me answer this question or gives a reference for it? Thanks.
- 379
8
votes
1
answer
380
views
Lavrentiev phenomenon between $C^1$ and Lipschitz
Does there exist a (onedimensional) integral functional of calculus of variations (with $f$ finite everywhere)
$$
F(y)=\int_a^b f(t,y(t),y'(t))\,dt
$$
such that
$$
\inf_{y\in Lip([a,b])}F(y)<\inf_{...
- 1,309
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Properties of convolutions
Consider the function
$$f_{n}(x)=e^{-x^2}x^n.$$
and the function
$$h_p(x):=e^{-\vert x \vert^p}.$$
My goal is to analyze
$$ F_p(y):=\frac{(f_2*h_p)(y)}{(f_0*h_p)(y)}- \left(\frac{(f_1*h_p)(y) }{(f_0*...
- 173
6
votes
1
answer
696
views
Reference request: optimal $L^p$ regularity for solutions to $-\Delta u=f$ with $f\in L^1(R^d)$
The tilte says it all. Given $f\in L^1(R^d)$ (let me restrict to dimension $d\geq 3$ for convenience), what is the optimal $L^p$ regularity for solutions to
$$
-\Delta u=f\hspace{3cm}(1)?
$$
I'm of ...
- 5,380
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Comparing norms on tensor products of matrices
Given a Hilbert space $H$, let $S_1(H)$ denote the space of trace-class operators on $H$, with the trace-class norm or Schatten 1-norm. That is
$$ \Vert T \Vert_1 = \sum_{j\geq 1} |s_j| $$
where $(s_1,...
- 209
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Symmetric basis of harmonic homogeneous polynomials
Recently, a question about the beautiful theory of harmonic polynomials made me aware there is something
I've wanted to know for a long time.
As is well known, for any number of variables $n$ and any ...
- 60.5k
6
votes
1
answer
474
views
Proof that $L^2(0,T;X)^* = L^2(0,T;X^*)$
How is the proof that
$$[L^2(0,T;X)]' = L^2(0,T;X')$$
looking like, where $X$ is a Hilbert space? I am asking for the proof that the dual space of $L^2(0,T;X)$ is the space $L^2(0,T;X^*)$.
Is the ...
- 83
5
votes
0
answers
198
views
Heuristic and graphic representation of BV functions and their singularities
This question is about some heuristics and graphs of BV functions.
In 1-dimensional setting, two key examples of $BV$ functions $u: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ are
the Heaviside function, whose ...
- 839
5
votes
1
answer
395
views
Universal decay rate of the Fisher information along the heat flow
I'm looking for a reference for the following fact: In the torus $\mathbb T^d$ let me denote by $u_t=u(t,x)$ the (unique, distributional) solution of the heat equation
$$
\partial_t u=\Delta u
$$
...
- 5,380
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is the space of signed finite measures on a compact set $M([0,1])$ a sequential space?
Let $M([0,1])$ be the set of finite signed measures on $[0,1]$
(with the topology generated by the sets $\left\{ \mu \in M([0,1]) : \left| \int f(x) \mu(dx)- a\right| \leq \delta\right\}$ for all $\...
- 95
4
votes
2
answers
765
views
Earliest use of deconvolution by Fourier transforms
From a previous discussion here Origin of the convolution theorem, it was shown that the property of convolution $y(t)$=$a$*$b$ becoming a multiplication after Fourier transform: $F$$(y(t))$= $F(a)F(b)...
- 879
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
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
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
$$...
- 839
1
vote
1
answer
497
views
Deriving the functional equation for $\zeta(s)$ from summing the powers of the zeros required to count the integers
When counting the number of integers $n(x)$ below a certain non-integer number $x$, the following series could be used:
$$n(x) = x-\frac12 + \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \left(\frac{e^{x \mu_n}} {\mu_n}+\frac{...
- 4,169
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 "...
48
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Intuition for Integral Transforms
It is well known that the operations of differentiation and integration are reduced to multiplication and division after being transformed by an integral transform (like e.g. Fourier or Laplace ...
- 5,935
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
42
votes
7
answers
5k
views
How should an analytic number theorist look at Bessel functions?
(And a related question: Where should an analytic number theorist learn about Bessel functions?)
Bessel functions occur quite frequently in analytic number theory. One example, Corollary 4.7 of ...
- 7,347
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
34
votes
4
answers
12k
views
Range of the Fourier transform on $L^1$
It is well known that the Fourier transform $\mathcal{F}$ maps
$L^1(\mathbb{R}^d)$ into, but not onto, $\overline{C_0^0}(\mathbb{R}^d)$, where the closure is taken in the $L^\infty$ norm. This is a ...
- 852
34
votes
7
answers
8k
views
Explicit formula for Riemann zeros counting function
I've often seen it stated (in vague terms) that there's a Fourier duality between the set of prime numbers and the set of nontrivial Riemann zeta zeros.
Because there are various explicit formulae ...
- 371
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
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.
29
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Does there exist a continuous function of compact support with Fourier transform outside L^1?
Let f be a complex-valued function of one real variable, continuous and compactly supported. Can it have a Fourier transform that is not Lebesgue integrable?
- 303
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
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
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
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
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