All Questions
10,934 questions
17
votes
0
answers
488
views
Large almost equilateral sets in finite-dimensional Banach spaces
Question: Does there exist a function $C:~(0,1)\to
(0,\infty)$ such that for each $\varepsilon\in(0,1)$ every Banach space
$X$ of dimension $\ge C(\varepsilon)\log n$ contains an $n$-point
set $\{x_i\...
16
votes
4
answers
3k
views
complex fourier coefficients, introduced by?
I remember reading somewhere that the complex Fourier coefficients were introduced by an engineer sometime around 1900, but I can't find anymore this information.
Does anyone know the name of this ...
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 ...
16
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is there a maximum to the amount of disjoint non-measurable subsets of the unit interval with full outer measure?
This question arose a few years back when I was an assistant teacher on a course of basic (Lebesgue) measure theory, but I didn't find an answer or anyone able to solve the problem. The setting of the ...
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How to generalize the various vector calculus theorems to distributions?
Here is a list of vector calculus identities; in the proof of these identities, we all assume that these functions are $𝐶^𝑘$ in an open set, and we usually use these identities to calculate ...
16
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Good book for measure theory and functional analysis
I have taken advanced courses both in measure theory and also in functional analysis (Banach and Hilbert spaces, spectral theory of bounded and unbounded operators, etc.)
The connections between the ...
16
votes
3
answers
951
views
What are the 'wonderful consequences' following from the existence of a minimal dense subspace?
In Peddechio & Tholens Categorical Foundations they quote PT Johnstone in their chapter on Frames & Locales:
...the single most important fact which distinguishes locales from spaces: the ...
16
votes
3
answers
708
views
An inequality for two independent identically distributed random vectors in a normed space
Suppose that $X$ and $Y$ are independent identically distributed random vectors in a separable Banach space $B$. Does it always follow that $E\|X-Y\|\le E\|X+Y\|$?
Some background information on ...
16
votes
2
answers
996
views
Perturbation of unbounded self-adjoint operators
In the paper "A CRITERION FOR THE NORMALITY OF UNBOUNDED OPERATORS AND APPLICATIONS TO SELF-ADJOINTNESS" by M. H MORTAD (http://arxiv.org/pdf/1301.0241.pdf), the author states the following theorem
...
16
votes
3
answers
1k
views
A natural center of a convex weakly compact set in Banach space
Question: Let $S$ be a convex weakly compact set in Banach space $H$. Propose a natural way to define the unique center $O \in S$.
Motivation: A lot! For example, in game theory $S$ can be a set of ...
16
votes
3
answers
852
views
Quantum Hamiltonian for an Inverse Cube Force Law
If you have a nonrelativistic quantum particle in $\mathbb{R}^3$ in an attractive inverse cube force, its Hamiltonian is
$$ H = -\nabla^2 - \frac{c}{r^2} $$
where I'm keeping things simple by ...
16
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Which bounded sequence can be realized as the Fourier Series of a probability measure on the circle?
Given a finite Borel measure $\mu$ on $\mathbb{S}^1 = \mathbb{R}/\mathbb{Z}$, define its Fourier coefficients by
$$ \hat\mu(n) = \int e^{2i\pi nx} d\mu(x) \qquad\forall n\in \mathbb{Z}.$$
Clearly, $(...
16
votes
3
answers
716
views
An algebraic approach to the thermodynamic limit $N\rightarrow\infty$?
In physics one studies quite often the thermodynamic limit or what we call the $N\rightarrow \infty$ behavior of a system of $N\rightarrow\infty$ particles. This is of particular relevance in the ...
16
votes
6
answers
2k
views
Finding closed subspaces whose sum isn't closed
Let $V_0$ be a closed infinite-dimensional subspace of a Banach space $V$ such that the quotient $V/V_0$ is also infinite-dimensional. Is it always possible to find a closed subspace of $V$ whose sum ...
16
votes
1
answer
970
views
Pedagogically intuitive reformulation of Zorn's Lemma for functional analysis
While teaching an applied functional analysis class, I’ve noticed that students often struggle to develop an intuitive understanding of Zorn’s lemma. It’s relatively straightforward to explain why ...
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
$$
\alpha(\xi\otimes\eta)(a) = \eta(a(\xi)).\quad (\xi\in X, \eta\in X^*, a\...
16
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Integration of differential forms using measure theory?
Setup: Let $(M,g)$ be a (possibly non-compact) Riemannian manifold with volume density $d_gV$. Then one may think of $(M,g)$ as a measure space $(\Omega,\mathcal{A},\mu)$, where $\Omega:=M$, $\mathcal{...
16
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Usefulness of Frechet versus Gateaux differentiability or something in between.
If you have a function $V: L \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$, where $L$ is an infinite dimensional topological vector space, there are multiple notions of differentiability. For $x,u \in L$, $V$ is Gateaux ...
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Examples of Banach manifolds with function spaces as tangent spaces
I have recently been learning the theory of Banach manifolds through Serge Lang's book on Differential Manifolds. So far the objects seem rather interesting but my intuition always comes from the ...
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Challenge: Non-Gaussian quartic integral and path integral in Quantum field theory
(1) It is well-known that we can get a Gaussian integral of this type, where $x$ is in $\mathbb{R}$:
$$
\int_{-\infty}^{\infty} dx e^{-ax^2}=\sqrt{(2\pi)/a}. \tag{i}
$$
We can generalize this ...
16
votes
1
answer
727
views
Integrating a family of vector spaces
Let $X$ be a measure space, or even a subspace of $\mathbb{R}^n$, and suppose I have a family of finite-dimensional vector spaces $\{V_x\}_{x\in X}$ indexed by $X$. Is there any way to "integrate" ...
16
votes
3
answers
918
views
What is the minimal $C_k$, such that every $f\colon \{-1,1\}^n\to \mathbb{R}$ of degree at most $k$ satisfies $\|f\|_2\le C_k\|f\|_1$
Every $f\colon\{-1,1\}^n\to \mathbb{R}$ can be repsenented as a multilinean polynomial of the form $$f(x_1,x_2,\ldots ,x_n)=\sum _{S\subseteq [n]} \hat{f}(S)\prod_{i\in S} x_i $$ The degree of the ...
16
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Measure theory treatment geared toward the Riesz representation theorem
I'm looking for recommendations for books (or lecture notes) that develop measure theory in sufficient detail to state and prove the Riesz representation theorem (which is the characterization of the ...
16
votes
1
answer
845
views
Fourier Series with Mobius coefficients
I assume this question has been considered before, but I can't find an literature on it. Let $\mu(n)$ denote the usual Mobius function and define:
$F(x) : = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{\mu(n)}{n}e(nx)$
...
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What (classes of) Banach spaces are known to have Schauder basis?
Motivation:
I am trying to see for what class of Banach spaces the following result is true:
There exists an increasing sequence of finite dimensional subspace {$V_n$} of a Banach space X (with ...
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 &...
16
votes
3
answers
791
views
Random products of projections: bounds on convergence rate?
The von Neumann-Halperin [vN,H] theorem shows that iterating a fixed product of projection operators converges to the projector onto the intersection subspace of the individual projectors. A good ...
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Kaplansky's conjecture and Martin's axiom
Recall Kaplansky's conjecture which states that every algebra homomorphism from the Banach algebra C(X) (where X is a compact Hausdorff topological space) into any other Banach algebra, is ...
16
votes
1
answer
537
views
Balls in Hilbert space
I recently noticed an interesting fact which leads to a perhaps difficult question. If $n$ is a natural number, let $k_n$ be the smallest number $k$ such that an open ball of radius $k$ in a real ...
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Analogues of the Riemann-Roch Theorem
In his thesis, Tate derives a Poisson formula on the adeles and a theorem which he calls the "Riemann-Roch Theorem". More specifically, given a continuous, $L^1$ function $f$ on the adeles such that ...
16
votes
1
answer
691
views
Unbalancing lights in higher dimensions
In ''The Probabilistic Method'' by Alon and Spencer, the following unbalancing lights problem is discussed. Given an $n \times n$ matrix $A = (a_{ij})$, where $a_{ij} = \pm 1$, we want to maximise the ...
16
votes
1
answer
526
views
Equivariant Fredholm operators classify equivariant K-theory
Let $\mathcal{F}$ be the space of Fredholm operators on a separable Hilbert space $H$ with the topology induced by the operator norm.
If $X$ is compact,
Atiyah-Jänich proved that
$$[X,\mathcal{F}]\...
16
votes
1
answer
656
views
Approximate eigenvectors for a set of non-commuting self-adjoint operators
This problem is motivated by finding the right mathematical setting for expressing the compatibility of classical physics with quantum mechanics.
Let $\mathcal H$ be a Hilbert space and $S$ a ...
16
votes
0
answers
542
views
$C^*$-algebra generated by those operators that are bounded on every $\ell_p$
Suppose $T: c_{00} \to c_{00}$ is a linear map such that, when regarded as an infinite matrix, there is a uniform bound on the $\ell_1$-norms of its columns, and a uniform bound on the $\ell_1$-norms ...
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Comparison of the classical Fourier transform and the Fourier-Mukai transform [closed]
This question has been revised. Skip to the question in bold.
Two MO questions, "Heuristic behind the Fourier-Mukai transform" and "Explaining Mukai-Fourier transforms physically," compel me to ask ...
16
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Finite Rank Commutators
My former student Detelin Dosev and I are interested in classifying the commutators in $L(X)$, the bounded linear operators on the Banach space $X$ (see our joint paper on my home page or the ArXiv ...
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 $m \in \mathbb{N}_0$?
15
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Universal $C^*$-algebra with generators and relations
We say that the $C^*$-algebra $A$ generated by $a_1,...,a_n$ is universal subject to relations $R_1,...,R_m$ if for every $C^*$-algebra $B$ with elements $b_1,...,b_n$ satisfying relations $R_1,...,...
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Naive questions about "matrices" representing endomorphisms of Hilbert spaces.
This is a very basic question and might be way too easy for MO. I am learning analysis in a very backwards way. This is a question about complex Hilbert spaces but here's how I came to it: I have in ...
15
votes
4
answers
974
views
What are some examples of understanding a space by studying the functions on this space?
In Quantum theory, groups and representations, Peter Woit writes:
A fundamental principle of modern mathematics is that the way to
understand a space $M$, given as some set of points, is to look at $...
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Asymptotic expansion of $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{n!{\sqrt{n}} }$
I've been trying to find an asymptotic expansion of the following series
$$C(x) = \sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{n!{\sqrt{n}} }$$
and
$$L(x) = \sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{...
15
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Between Tietze's and Dugundji's extension theorems
The celebrated Tietze extension theorem asserts that any continuous real-valued function defined on a closed subset of a normal space, can be extended to a continuous function on the whole space. Seen ...
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Range of completely positive projection
Let $A$ be a C*-algebra. Suppose that $P:A \rightarrow A$ is a contractive completely positive projection. Does the range $P(A)$ is completely order isomorphic to a $C^*$-algebra?
In the case where ...
15
votes
3
answers
8k
views
What is an isomorphism of Banach spaces?
The nLab page on Banach spaces (http://ncatlab.org/nlab/show/Banach%20space) was recently criticised as being, in effect, too heavily biased to category theory (not of the Baire kind) and not enough ...
15
votes
3
answers
4k
views
What holomorphic functions are limits of polynomials?
Let $\Omega$ be a connected open set in the complex plane. What is the closure of the polynomials in $\mathcal{H}(\Omega)$ the set of holomorphic functions on $\Omega$? The topology is the usual ...
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a $C_c^{\infty}( \mathbb{R}^d)$ function whose Fourier transform we can explicitly write down?
I noticed that although $C_c^{\infty}$-functions are dense in some quite large spaces and well understood (especially their Fourier transform) I have never encountered an explicit example of a ...
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is zero a hydrogen eigenvalue?
This question has been bugging me for some time.
Take the hamiltonian for the hydrogen atom: $$\hat{H}=-\frac{1}{2}\nabla^2-\frac{1}{r},$$ acting on (a domain contained in) $L^2(\mathbb{R}^3)$. It is ...
15
votes
2
answers
888
views
Hodge decomposition of smooth n-forms: is it an isomorphism of topological vector spaces?
Fix a compact Riemannian manifold $M$ (leaving the metric implicit). What I'd like to know is if the corresponding Hodge decomposition of smooth $n$-forms
$$
\Omega^n(M) \simeq \mathcal{H}^n(M)\oplus ...
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Version of Banach-Steinhaus theorem
I am wondering about the following version of the Banach-Steinhaus theorem.
Let $A$ be a closed convex subset contained in the unit ball of a Banach space $X$ and consider bounded operators $T_n \in \...
15
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Spectral theorem for self-adjoint differential operator on Hilbert space
I need a reference concerning a theorem that shows the following result, stated very roughly:
Given a self-adjoint differential operator densely defined on a Hilbert space, then the given Hilbert ...