All Questions
10,934 questions
18
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3
answers
2k
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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 $C^k$-...
18
votes
3
answers
1k
views
In which sense the GNS-construction is a functor?
I asked this at mathstackexchange a week ago, without success.
I think the Gelfand–Naimark–Segal construction must be a functor in some sense, but I can't find an explicit statement anywhere. Can ...
18
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Formal adjoint of the covariant derivative
Let $E \to M$ be a vector bundle over some Riemannian metric $(M, g)$ and endow it with some fibre metric. Assume that covariant derivative $\nabla$ is compatible with the metric.
It is essentially ...
18
votes
1
answer
564
views
Is the space of Hankel operators complemented in B(H)?
Let $H$ be $\ell^2({\mathbb N})$ and let $S:H\to H$ be the unilateral forward shift, so that $S^*S=I\neq SS^*$. Then a bounded operator $T:H\to H$ is Hankel if and only if it satisfies $TS=S^*T$.
Let ...
18
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Let a function f have all moments zero. What conditions force f to be identically zero?
Throughout, let $f$ be a Lebesgue measurable function (or continuous if you wish, but this is probably no easier). (Questions with distributions etc. are possible also but I want to keep things simple ...
18
votes
3
answers
1k
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Spectra of elements of a Banach algebra and the role played by the Hahn-Banach Theorem.
This problem was posed on Math StackExchange some time ago, but it did not garner any solutions there. I think that it is interesting enough to be posed here on Math Overflow, so here it goes.
Let $ \...
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(...
18
votes
4
answers
1k
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Who first used the multiplication operator version of spectral theory
This is another history question.
Hilbert phrased the spectral theorem in terms of resolutions of the identity.
While this remained the form of Stone and von Neumann, they did also have the ...
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Who introduced the notion of "stability" in numerical analysis?
I am preparing a lecture course on the applications of operator theory where I intended to make some numerical analysis application. I was wondering about this question while browsing the literature I ...
18
votes
1
answer
3k
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How bad can the second derivative of a convex function be?
One can easily construct an example of a measurable function $f:(a,b)\to \mathbb{R}$ which satisfies the following property:
$$\label{p}\tag{P}
f\notin L^1(I),\ \mbox{for each interval}\ I\subset (a,...
18
votes
1
answer
748
views
Banach-Mazur distance between the cube and the octahedron
The Banach-Mazur distance $d(X, Y)$ between two normed spaces $X, Y$ of the same dimension is defined as $d(X, Y) = \log\inf \|T\| \cdot \|T^{-1}\|$, where the $T:X \to Y$ is a linear and invertible ...
18
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Reference for a strong intermediate value theorem for measures
Let $\mu$ be a finite nonatomic measure on a measurable space $(X,\Sigma)$, and for simplicity assume that $\mu(X) = 1$. There is a well-known "intermediate value theorem" of Sierpiński that states ...
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
compact-open topology on $B(H)$
In topology, it is common to use the compact-open topology on the set of continuous maps between two given topological spaces.
Let now $H$ be a Hilbert space and $B(H)$ the set of continuous linear ...
18
votes
2
answers
776
views
What is known about the "unitary group" of a rigged Hilbert space?
Suppose that $(E,H)$ is a rigged (infinite dimensional, separable) Hilbert space, i.e. $H$ is a Hilbert space, and $E$ is a Fréchet space, equipped with a continuous linear injection $E \rightarrow H$ ...
18
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Example of a space for which $V \cong Hom(V,V)$
Let $V$ be a topological linear space, and let $\operatorname{Hom}(V,V)$ be the space of continuous linear maps from $V$ back to $V$, equipped with a suitable topology.
Is there a non-trivial ...
18
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Borel Lemma for vector-valued functions
The classical Borel Lemma states that for an arbitrary sequence $(v_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}_0}$ of complex numbers there is a smooth function $f\colon \mathbb{R} \longrightarrow \mathbb{C}$ with Taylor ...
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Commuting unitaries
Is the following true:
For every unit vectors $x_1,..., x_n$, $y_1,..., y_n$ in $\mathbb{C}^k$
there exist a Hilbert space $H$, unitary operators $U_1,...,U_n$ and $V_1,...,V_n$ in $B(H)$ and unit ...
18
votes
1
answer
11k
views
Is every continuous function measurable?
This question has already been asked on Math StackExchange here, but was too old to be migrated, and I think will be more appropriate to MathOverflow.
In non-Hausdorff topology it is standard to ...
18
votes
1
answer
996
views
Existance of certain almost invariant functions related to amenability and piece-wise transformations
We would like very much to know the answer to the following question:
Let $\|\cdot\|$ be any norm on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ and let $W(\mathbb{Z}^d)$ be the group of all bijections of $\mathbb{Z}^d$ such ...
18
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Complex structure on $L^2(\mathbb R)$ generalizing the Hilbert transform
The Hilbert transform on the real Hilbert space $L^2(\mathbb R)$ is the singular integral operator
$$
\mathcal H(f)(x) := \frac{1}{\pi} \int_{-\infty}^\infty \frac{1}{x-y} f(y) dy.
$$
It satisfies $\...
18
votes
1
answer
2k
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Equivalence of fractional Sobolev space defined through Gagliardo norm and interpolation; dependence on the domain
Let $\Gamma$ be a smooth hypersurface in $\mathbb{R}^n$. We can define the fractional Sobolev space
$$X = \left\{ u \in L^2(\Gamma) \mid |u|_X^2 := \int_\Gamma \int_\Gamma \frac{|u(x)-u(y)|^2}{|x-y|^{...
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Are there non-reflexive abelian topological groups isomorphic to their second dual?
I posted the following question in a comment at
Are there non-reflexive vector spaces isomorphic to their bi-dual? and it got one upvote, but it didn't get an answer, so I'll post it as an ...
17
votes
5
answers
7k
views
A counter example to Hahn-Banach separation theorem of convex sets.
I'm trying to understand the necessity for the assumption in the Hahn-Banach theorem for one of the convex sets to have an interior point. The other way I've seen the theorem stated, one set is closed ...
17
votes
4
answers
959
views
What is the minimum of this quantity on $S^{n-2}\times S^{n-2}$?
My question is to find the minimum of the following expression:
$$A(x,y) = \sum_{1\leq i<j\leq n} |x_i-x_j|\ |y_i-y_j|,$$
over the set of pairs of real vectors $x=(x_1,\dots,x_n),y=(y_1,\dots,y_n)$ ...
17
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Is there an "analytical" version of Tao's uncertainty principle?
Let $p$ be a prime. For $f: \mathbb{Z}/p \mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$ let its Fourier transform be:
$$\hat f(n) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{p}}\sum_{x \in \mathbb{Z}/p \mathbb{Z}} f(x)\, e\left(\frac{-xn}{...
17
votes
3
answers
2k
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Is every Schwartz function the product of two Schwartz functions?
A Schwartz function on $\mathbb R^d$ is a $C^\infty$ function, such that all differentials of order $k \ge 0$ decay faster than any polynomial. They include the class $C^\infty_c(\mathbb R^d)$ of ...
17
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Positive-Definite Functions and Fourier Transforms
Bochner's theorem states that a positive definite function is the Fourier transform of a finite Borel measure. As well, an easy converse of this is that a Fourier transform must be positive definite.
...
17
votes
2
answers
834
views
When is $\sum_{n\in\mathbb Z} f(x+n)$ constant?
A recently asked question (linked here) deals with the remarkable identity
$$ \sum_{n\in\mathbb Z} \mathrm{sinc}(n+x)= \pi,\quad x\in\mathbb R, $$
where $\mathrm{sinc}(x)=\sin(x)/x$.
It is easy ...
17
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What are the major differences between real and complex Banach space?
Most theorems under real Banach space settings have their twin brothers for complex ones, say, the Hahn-Banach theorem. However, some theorems are not valid in complex Banach spaces, and vice versa.
...
17
votes
3
answers
3k
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Which sigma-ideals in a sigma-algebra are ideals of null sets?
My question is motivated, to be somewhat vague, by an attempt to see how much a measure space is defined by the set of null sets. In other words, assume we are not given a concrete measure on a space ...
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 ...
17
votes
1
answer
986
views
Uncountably many subsets of the natural numbers with certain natural density condition
Are there uncountably many $A_\alpha $ of subsets of $\mathbb{N}$ with the following two properties:
Each $A_\alpha$ has positive upper natural density
$A_\alpha \cap A_\beta$ is a finite set for $\...
17
votes
1
answer
861
views
Extreme points of convex compact sets
Preparing to a lecture on Krein--Milman theorem I read in W. Rudin's Functional analysis textbook (1973) that it is unknown whether any convex compact set in any topological vector space has an ...
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How many values determine a norm?
It is well known that for a bilinear form over an n-dimensional vector space, $n^2$ values (on all pairs of basis-vectors) determine it uniquely.
How many values do we need to specify in order to ...
17
votes
1
answer
2k
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Are "most" operators on an infinite-dimensional complex Banach space "diagonalizable"?
This is true for finite-dimensional spaces: the diagonal operators on a finite dimensional complex vector space form contain a dense open set and the nondiagonalizable operators have measure 0.
To be ...
17
votes
2
answers
2k
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Realisation of the noncommutative torus as a universal $ C^{*} $-algebra
One of the most basic examples in noncommutative geometry is the so-called noncommutative torus, denoted here by $ \mathbb{T}_{\theta} $. As far as I know, there are several equivalent constructions ...
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 ...
17
votes
4
answers
2k
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Banach-Mazur applied to a Hilbert space
The Banach-Mazur theorem says that every separable Banach space is isometric to a subspace of $C^0([0;1],R)$, the space of continuous real valued functions on the interval $[0;1]$, with the sup norm.
...
17
votes
4
answers
4k
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How much does the absolute value of an operator behave like an absolute value?
Recall that the absolute value of a bounded operator $T$ on a Hilbert space $H$ is the unique positive operator $|T|$ such that $$\||T|x\|=\|Tx\|$$ for all $x\in H$. It can be defined using the ...
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 $\...
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Which Fréchet manifolds have a smooth partition of unity?
A classical theorem is saying that every smooth, finite-dimensional manifold has a smooth partition of unity. My question is:
Which Fréchet manifolds have a smooth partition of unity?
How is the ...
17
votes
1
answer
569
views
Does a completely metrizable space admit a compatible metric where all intersections of nested closed balls are non-empty?
(cross-posted from this math.SE question)
It is well-known that given a metric space $(X,d)$, the metric is complete if and only if every intersection of nested (i.e. decreasing with respect to ...
17
votes
1
answer
808
views
Operator Valued Kadison--Singer Problem
The Paving Conjecture, which is equivalent to the famous Kadison--Singer Problem, was spectacularly settled in the affirmative by Marcus--Spielman--Srivastava (arxiv:1306.3969). Let $E$ denote the ...
17
votes
1
answer
912
views
$(1+\epsilon)$-injective Banach spaces, complex scalars
It is well known that a real Banach space which is $(1+\epsilon)$-injective for every $\epsilon >0$ is already 1-injective (Lindenstrauss Memoirs AMS, 1964, download here). Using common ...
17
votes
1
answer
759
views
Classification of non-Hausdorff topological vector spaces
It is well-known that up to topological isomorphism there is exactly one Hausdorff topological vector space (say, over $\mathbb{C}$) of a given dimension $n$, namely $\mathbb{C}^n$ with the euclidean ...
17
votes
2
answers
953
views
Convexity of spectral radius of Markov operators, Random walks on non-amenable groups
Let $P_1,P_2$ denote stochastic transition matrices on a countable set $I$.
Consider $P_1,P_2$ as operators on $\ell^2(I)$ given by multiplication.
Question
Under which conditions can we show that ...
17
votes
2
answers
4k
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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 ...
17
votes
3
answers
770
views
Does a spectral gap lift to covering spaces?
Let $M$ be a complete Riemannian manifold. Denote $\Delta_M\ge0$ the unique self-adjoint extension of the Laplace-Beltrami operator in $L^2(M)$ and $\sigma(\Delta_M)\subset [0,\infty)$ its spectrum. ...
17
votes
1
answer
1k
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Invariant definition of the space of symbols on a vector bundle (pseudo-differential operators)
Normally, in the context of pseudo-differential operators, a symbol on a vector bundle $E$ is defined as a smooth function on $E$ which in each trivializing chart fulfills the usual symbol estimates
\...
17
votes
0
answers
677
views
Are dualizable topological vector spaces finite-dimensional?
Consider the symmetric monoidal category TVS of complete Hausdorff topological vector spaces equipped with the completed projective, injective, or inductive tensor product.
Every finite-dimensional ...