All Questions
1,030 questions
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
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
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
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 ...
22
votes
2
answers
2k
views
When are Fourier coefficients monotonic?
Given some sufficiently smooth function $f$ what conditions would be sufficient for its Fourier coefficients, as defined by
$$
\hat{f}(n) := \int_{0}^{2\pi}\cos(nx)f(x)\ dx, \quad \text{for } n = 1,2,\...
- 595
21
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Density of polynomials in $C^k(\overline\Omega)$
Let $\Omega$ be an open and bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}^2$ and let $C^k(\Omega)$, $1\leq k<\infty$, be the space of functions $f$ with continuous derivatives of order $\leq k$ in $\Omega$, ...
- 4,034
21
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Meager subspaces of a Banach space and weak-* convergence
I previously asked a version of this question on Math.SE, but didn't receive an answer. (But there is a bounty there if you want to claim it!)
Let $X$ be a Banach space. (If it helps, feel free to ...
- 29.8k
21
votes
0
answers
732
views
Closed connected additive subgroups of the Hilbert space
It is a classical result that a closed and connected additive subgroup of $\mathbb{R}^n$ is necessarily a linear subspace. However, this is no longer true in infinite dimension: a very easy example is ...
- 60.5k
21
votes
5
answers
18k
views
When is Sobolev space a subset of the continuous functions?
If we let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^d$ with $d=1,2,3$ and define $\mathcal{H}^1(\Omega)=(w\in L_2(\Omega): \frac{\partial w}{\partial x_i}\in L_2(\Omega), i=1,...,d)$. My tutor has repeated several ...
- 3,217
20
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Fourier transform of $f_a(x)= a^{-2}\exp(-|x|^a)$, $a \in (0,2)$, is decreasing in $a$
Can one show that Fourier transform of
$$ f_a(x) = a^{-2} \exp(-|x|^a), \qquad a \in (0,2)$$
is decreasing in $a$?
I have a solution for $a \in (0,1]$ which cannot be used for $a\in (1,2)$.
- 178
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
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
3
answers
3k
views
Why is multiplication on the space of smooth functions with compact support continuous?
I asked the question
Why is multiplication on the space of smooth functions with compact support continuous? on M.SE
sometime ago but I didn't receive a satisfactory answer.
I was reading this ...
- 394
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
17
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Is this statement which relates the Fourier transform of a function to its singularities correct?
I am working on a problem, which would possibly relate the Fourier transform/series with the jump singularities of the function where the function itself or one of its derivatives jump. ((some kind of ...
- 698
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
16
votes
2
answers
731
views
A reference to a characterization of metric spaces admitting an isometric embedding into a Hilbert space
I am looking for a reference to the bipartite version of the Schoenberg's criterion of embeddability into a Hilbert space. The Schoenberg criterion is formulated as Proposition 8.5(ii) of the book &...
- 41.9k
16
votes
2
answers
682
views
Ultraweak topology on B(X): Is the map X\otimes X* -> B(X)* isometric?
Let $X$ be a Banach space. Consider the map
$$
\alpha\colon X\hat{\otimes} X^* \to B(X)^*,
$$
defined one simple tensors as
$$
\alpha(\xi\otimes\eta)(a) = \eta(a(\xi)).\quad (\xi\in X, \eta\in X^*, a\...
- 3,497
16
votes
4
answers
11k
views
Fourier transform of Analytic Functions
Forgive me if this question does not meet the bar for this forum. But i would really appreciated some help.
I'm trying to construct a function according to some conditions in the frequency domain of ...
- 317
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Positivity of certain Fourier transform
Is the Fourier transform of the function
$$ f(\xi) = e^{-t|\xi|^{2m}}$$
positive for $t>0$ and $m \in \mathbb{N}_0$?
- 9,853
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Bases for spaces of smooth functions
Let $S$ denote the space of rapidly decreasing sequences, which means sequences $a=(a_k)_{k=1}^\infty$ such that the numbers $p_d(a)=\sup\{k^d|a_k| : 1\leq k<\infty\}$ are finite for all $d\in\...
- 56.9k
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can the Riemann integral be defined through a closure/completion process?
Let us consider real-valued functions on the bounded interval $[0,1]$. A "step function" means an element of the vector space spanned by indicator functions of (points and) intervals in $[0,1]$ (the ...
- 32.5k
15
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Generalizations of the Tietze extension theorem (and Lusin's theorem)
I am reasking a year-old math.stackexchange.com question asked by someone else.
(For my needs every space $X$ and $Y$ will be Polish---that is a completely separably metrizable space.)
The Tietze ...
- 6,287
14
votes
6
answers
3k
views
What's a natural candidate for an analytic function that interpolates the tower function?
I know that there are analytic functions whose composition with itself is the exponential function, the so-called functional square root of the exponential function, with the additional property that ...
- 4,466
14
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Are smooth functions tame?
I know the article of Hamilton on the inverse function theorem of Nash and Moser (with the same title) where he proves that $C^\infty(M)$ is a tame Fréchet space, when $M$ is closed or compact with ...
- 9,853
14
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Are weak and strong convergence of sequences not equivalent?
For some infinite-dimensional Banach spaces $E$, it is easy to find sequences $\langle x_i:i\in\mathbb N_0\rangle$ which converge to zero weakly but not in the norm topology, i.e. we have $\lim_{i\to\...
- 3,584
13
votes
0
answers
492
views
Does Hahn-Banach for $\ell^\infty$ imply the existence of a non-measurable set?
Working over ZF but without the Axiom of Choice (AC), assume that the Hahn–Banach Theorem holds for $\ell^\infty$. Does it follow that there exists a set of real numbers that is not Lebesgue ...
- 82.7k
13
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Fourier Coefficients and Hölder Continuity
Suppose we are given the Fourier coefficients of an $L^2$ function on the circle. Are there necessary and sufficient conditions on the coefficients that allow us to determine that $f$ is Hölder ...
- 255
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is the set of separable quantum states closed?
Let $\mathcal H,\mathcal H'$ be Hilbert spaces (not necessarily separable).
A "separable state" is a trace-class operator of the form $\sum_i \rho_i\otimes\rho_i'$ where $\rho_i,\rho_i'$ are positive ...
- 896
13
votes
0
answers
818
views
Covering number estimates for Hölder balls
Let $\alpha \in (0,1]$, $r>0$ and $L>0$, and positive intwgers $n$ and $m$. The Arzela-Ascoli Theorem guarantees that the set $X(\alpha,L,r)$ of $f:[-1,1]^n\rightarrow [-r,r]^m$ with $\alpha$-...
- 5,405
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
To what extent is convexity a local property?
A polyhedron is the intersection of a finite collection of halfspaces. These halfspaces are not assumed to be linear, i.e. their bounding hyperplanes are not assumed to contain the origin. The ...
- 1,846
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Reference request: Simple facts about vector-valued Sobolev space
Let $V,H$ be separable Hilbert spaces such that there are dense injections $V \hookrightarrow H \hookrightarrow V^*$. (For example, $H = L^2(\mathbb{R}^n)$, $V = H^1(\mathbb{R}^n)$, $V^* = H^{-1}(\...
- 29.8k
12
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Banach spaces $X$ with $\ell_2(X)$ not isomorphic to $L_2([0,1],X)$
Let $X$ be a Banach space. I think that some time ago I read somewhere that, in general, the space $\ell_2(X)$ of all sequences $(x_n)$ in $X$ with $\sum_{n=1}^\infty \|x_n\|^2<\infty$ is not ...
- 4,461
12
votes
1
answer
575
views
Is $\ell_p$ $(1<p<\infty)$ finitely isometrically distortable?
Let $Y$ be a Banach space isomorphic to $\ell_p$, $1<p<\infty$. Is it true that any finite subset of $\ell_p$ is isometric to some finite subset of $Y$?
It seems to me that it is an interesting ...
- 4,878
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Fourier transform of the critical line of zeta?
This was asked on MSE and got a lot of upvotes but no answers, so I'm posting it here.
Is there a known expression for the (distributional) Fourier transform of the Riemann zeta function, taken along ...
- 4,897
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Do Hausdorff locally convex inductive limits always exist?
The following is from Schaefer, "Topological Vector Spaces", 1999, p. 56/57:
Let $(E_\alpha)_{\alpha \in A}$ be a family of locally convex spaces with $\alpha$ in a directed poset $A$ and $h_{\beta \...
- 1,773
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Spectral theorem for unbounded self-adjoint operators on REAL Hilbert spaces
This question was posed on MathStackExchange but did not get an answer (even with a bounty).
In all books that I have checked the spectral theorem (every self-adjoint unbounded operator on a Hilbert ...
- 16.4k
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a relation between Gelfand duality and the spectrum of a ring (with its Zariski topology)?
Compare the following two results:
Thm A) Let $A$ be a commutative $C^*$-algebra and let $X$ be its Gelfand spectrum. Gelfand duality says that there's a natural isometric $*$-isomorphism from $A$ to ...
- 711
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Stone-Weierstrass analogue for $L^p$
Let $A$ be a complex algebra of bounded measurable functions on the measure space $(X,\mu)$ (case of $[0,1]$ with Lebesgue measure is enough for me) closed under conjugation. Assume that $A$ separates ...
- 109k
11
votes
2
answers
714
views
A neat evaluation of an infinite matrix?
Let $M_n$ be an $n\times n$ matrix defined as
$$M_n
=\left[\frac{2i+1}{2(i+j+1)}\binom{i-1/2}i\binom{j-1/2}jx^{i+j+1}\right]_{i,j=0}^n.$$
With $I_n$ the identity matrix, consider $A_n:=I_n-M_n^2$. ...
- 43.2k
11
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Example of noncomplete quotient of complete lcs mod closed subspace
The following statement is well-known: for a Fréchet space $V$ and a closed subspace $W \subseteq V$ the quotient $V / W$ is again complete and hence a Fréchet space. For the particular case of a ...
- 8,098
11
votes
1
answer
258
views
Bilinear product of two summable families
Consider the following statement, which I suspect is false as written:
Let $E,F,G$ be (Hausdorff) topological vector spaces (over $\mathbb{R}$), let $\varphi\colon E\times F\to G$ be continuous and ...
- 32.5k
10
votes
0
answers
761
views
Reference request : Grothendieck's topological space valued integral
As I am learning the different kind of Banach space valued integrals (Pettis, Bochner), I know that Grothendieck made a "mémoire" in his youth about this topic, but I don't know if it is available ...
- 1,616
10
votes
1
answer
783
views
When do tensor products of C*-algebras commute with colimits?
Let $I$ be a filtered poset, which you should think of as being huge. Let $A_i$ be an $I$-diagram of $C^{\star}$-algebras and let $A$ be the colimit of this diagram; if necessary, we can also assume ...
- 976
10
votes
2
answers
926
views
Continuity of the product map
Let $A$ be a $C^*$-algebra.
Is it possible to characterize $A$ for which the product map defined by
$$\sum\limits_{i=1}^n a_i\otimes b_i \mapsto \sum\limits_{i=1}^n a_i b_i$$
is continuous with ...
- 4,705
10
votes
1
answer
492
views
Which W*-algebras are the duals of C*-coalgebras?
A Banach algebra (assumed associative and unital) is precisely a monoid object in the monoidal category of Banach spaces, short linear maps, and the projective tensor product. A Banach coalgebra is ...
- 2,754
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Rate of convergence of smooth mollifiers
How does one figure out/prove the rate of convergence (in some norm) of mollifiers given a function bounded in some other norm (say Sobolev space, Besov space)? Also, is there a dimensional analysis ...
- 2,243
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Traces of Sobolev spaces
Is there a simple proof of the following fact?
Theorem. Let $\Omega\subset\mathbb{R}^n$ be a bounded and smooth domain. If $n>2$, then $W^{1,n-1}(\partial\Omega)\subset
W^{1-\frac{1}{n},n}(\...
- 28k