All Questions
1,592 questions
17
votes
1
answer
2k
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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 ...
- 4,519
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 ...
- 2,641
17
votes
4
answers
4k
views
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 ...
- 3,115
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
The letters of the word "ART"
Edit: According to the Gelfand duality between topological spaces and commutative $C^{*}$algebras, I add some new tags. So the question is that what is the structure of $ Ext (A,A)$ where $A$ is $...
- 356
17
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why are inverse images more important than images in mathematics?
Why are inverse images of functions more central to mathematics than the image?
I have a sequence of related questions:
Why the fixation on continuous maps as opposed to open maps? (Is there an ...
16
votes
5
answers
9k
views
A G-delta-sigma that is not F-sigma?
A subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$ is
$G_\delta$ if it is the intersection
of countably many open sets
$F_\sigma$ if it is the union of countably many closed sets
$G_{\delta\sigma}$ if it is the union
of ...
- 1,981
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Characterization of Stone-Cech compactifications
Suppose I have an infinite discrete topological space $X$ of cardinality $\kappa$. Then I know some things about the Stone-Cech compactification, $\beta X$: it is Hausdorff and compact but not ...
- 20.5k
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 ...
- 42.8k
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{...
- 408
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 ...
- 161
16
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Physical interpretations/meanings of the notion of a sheaf?
I fairly understand the fiber bundles, both the mathematical concept of fiber bundles and the physics use of fiber bundles. Because the fiber bundles are tightly connected to the gauge field theory in ...
- 10.5k
16
votes
4
answers
1k
views
HOMFLY and homology; also superalgebras
My understanding is that an analogy along the following lines is (roughly) true:
"The Alexander polynomial is to knot Floer homology is to gl(1|1)
as the Jones polynomial is to Khovanov homology is ...
- 2,806
16
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Regular spaces that are not completely regular
In the undergraduate toplogy course we were given examples of spaces that are $T_i$ but not $T_{i+1}$ for $i=0,\ldots,4$. However, no example of a space which is $T_3$ but not $T_{3.5}$ was given. ...
- 2,104
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
...
- 163
16
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Compactness of the Hilbert cube without the Axiom of Choice
I am just curious: is there a published proof of the compactness of the Hilbert cube that does not use the Axiom of Choice, or is it well known?
- 1,481
16
votes
0
answers
372
views
On projectively countable sets in the Hilbert cube
A subset $A$ of a topological space $X$ is called projectively countable if for any continuous map $f:X\to\mathbb R$ the image $f(A)$ is countable.
It is easy to see that each projectively countable ...
- 41.9k
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 ...
- 32.2k
16
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there always a way up?
I am trying to find a simple criterion for a real continuous function $f$ on a connected, open subset $U$ of $\mathbb R^n$ that would imply the following property (P)
For any $x, y \in U$ such that $f(...
- 1,608
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Pullbacks as manifolds versus ones as topological spaces
My question is: Does the forgetful functor F:(Mfd) $\to$ (Top) preserve pullbacks?
Detailed explanation is following.
A pullback is defined as a manifold/topological space satisfying a universal ...
- 811
16
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Does Urysohn's Lemma imply Dependent Choice?
It's widely known$^{1}$ that in the proof of Urysohn's Lemma (UL) one uses the Principle of Dependent Choice (DC). Inspired by the equivalence between DC and Baire's Category Theorem$^{2}$, I'd like ...
- 405
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
$$[X,\mathcal{F}]\...
- 673
16
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Continuity on a measure one set versus measure one set of points of continuity
In short: If $f$ is continuous on a measure one set, is there a function $g=f$ a.e. such that a.e. point is a point of continuity of $g$?
Now more carefully, with some notation: Suppose $(X, d_X)$ ...
- 2,221
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
$\infty$-topoi versus condensed anima
Let $ExDisc_\kappa$ denote the category of $\kappa$-small extremally disconnected topological spaces (for now fix a strong limit cardinal $\kappa$). There's a functor $ExDisc_\kappa \to \mathsf{RTop}$ ...
- 15.9k
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Can one do without Riesz Representation?
In more detail, can one establish that the continuous linear dual of a Hilbert space is again a Hilbert space without appealing to the Riesz Representation Theorem?
For me, the Riesz Representation ...
- 26.8k
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Asymptotic expansion of $\sum\limits_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{x^{2n+1}}{n!{\sqrt{n}} }$
I've been trying to find an asymptotic expansion of the following series
$$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}}{...
- 153
15
votes
0
answers
259
views
Spaces locally modelled on $L^2(\mathbb R)$
In this recent question, I learned that any two separable Banach spaces are homeomorphic. Based on some readings, I'm guessing that $L^2(\mathbb R)$ is homeomorphic to $\prod_{n=1}^{\infty} (0,1)$ (...
- 43.2k
15
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Is there a simple direct proof of the Open Mapping Theorem from the Uniform Boundedness Theorem?
The Open Mapping Theorem, the Bounded Inverse Theorem, and the Closed Graph Theorem are equivalent theorems in that any can be easily obtained from any other. The Closed Graph Theorem also easily ...
- 2,049
15
votes
1
answer
889
views
Operator norms of circulant matrices
The definition and basic properties of circulant matrices can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circulant_matrix.
For complex numbers $a_1,\ldots,a_n$, I will use the notation
$$
\mbox{...
- 717
15
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Naive questions about "matrices" representing endomorphisms of Hilbert spaces.
This is a very basic question and might be way too easy for MO. I am learning analysis in a very backwards way. This is a question about complex Hilbert spaces but here's how I came to it: I have in ...
- 41.4k
15
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Must any continuous odd map from $\mathbb{S}^2$ to $\mathbb{R}$ have a path of zeros between antipodal points?
Let $f : S^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ be a continuous map such that $f(-x) = -f(x)$. Consider the set $Z = f^{-1}(0)$. Must $Z$ contain some path from some point to its antipode? Indeed, must $Z$ contain a ...
- 5,827
15
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What do we actually know about logarithmic energy ?
In potential theory, the $\textit{logarithmic energy}$ of a Radon measure $\mu$ acting on $\mathbb{C}$ is defined by
$$I(\mu)=\iint\log\frac{1}{|x-y|}\mu(dx)\mu(dy).$$ Of course it is not well ...
- 2,135
15
votes
1
answer
904
views
Bijection $f: \mathbb R^n \to \mathbb R^n$ that maps connected onto connected sets must map closed connected onto closed connected sets?
Willie Wong asked here (MO) and here (MSE) very interesting question.
As he phrased it:
Let $(X,\tau), (Y,\sigma)$ be two topological spaces. We say that a map $f: \mathcal{P}(X)\to \mathcal{P}(Y)$ ...
- 225
15
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Convolution algebras for double groupoids?
There is a lot of work of course on convolution algebras of measured groupoids, and this gives "Noncommutative geometry". However there is a lot of interest in algebraically structured groupoids, for ...
- 12.3k
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 ...
- 26.8k
15
votes
1
answer
477
views
What are the algebras for the ultrafilter monad on topological spaces?
Motivation: Let $(X,\tau)$ be a topological space. Then the set $\beta X$ of ultrafilters on $X$ admits a natural topology (cf. Example 5.14 in Adámek and Sousa - D-ultrafilters and their monads), ...
- 64k
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 ...
- 1,222
15
votes
4
answers
734
views
Continuously selecting elements from unordered pairs
The symmetric square of a topological space $X$ is obtained from the usual square $X^2$ by identifying pairs of symmetric points $(x_1,x_2)$ and $(x_2,x_1)$. Thus, elements of the symmetric square can ...
- 44.4k
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why it is convenient to be cartesian closed for a category of spaces?
In 1967 Steenrod wrote what later became a quite celebrated paper, A convenient category of topological spaces (Michigan Math. J. 14 (1967) 133–152). The paper conveys the work of many (among the most ...
- 9,111
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Riesz's representation theorem for non-locally compact spaces
Every version of Riesz's representation theorem (the one expressing linear functionals as integrals) that I have found so far assumes that the underlying topological space is locally-compact. (For ...
- 5,407
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Inductive tensor product and smooth functions
Given complete, locally convex Hausdorff vector spaces $E$ and $F$, let
$$ E \otimes_i F, \qquad E \otimes_\pi F$$ denote the (completed) inductive and projective tensor products respectively. The ...
- 235
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Disintegrations are measurable measures - when are they continuous?
This is a sequel to another question I have asked.
The notion of disintegration is a refinement of conditional probability to spaces which have more structure than abstract probability spaces; ...
- 8,512
15
votes
2
answers
810
views
Are extensions of nuclear Fréchet spaces nuclear?
Consider the category of Fréchet spaces, the morphisms being
continuous linear maps with closed image. Suppose that we
have a short exact sequence in that category:
$0 \rightarrow V_1 \rightarrow ...
- 261
15
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Making CW-complexes metrizable
$\newcommand\met{\mathrm{met}}$It is a basic topological fact that CW-complexes aren't typically metrizable (they must satisfy a certain local finiteness condition) and the quotient topology is to ...
- 7,193
14
votes
1
answer
578
views
Obstruction of spin-c structure and the generalized Wu manifods
Bockstein homomorphim and obstruction of spin-c structure: Let $w_2$ be the Stiefel Whintney class of manifold $M$. Let the Bockstein homomorphim $\beta$ be the
$$
H^2(\mathbb{Z}_2,M) \to H^3(\mathbb{...
- 2,147
14
votes
4
answers
550
views
About the existence of characters on $B(X)$
Let $X$ be a Banach space. Let $B(X)$ be the space of all bounded linear operators on $X$. Does $B(X)$ have an empty character space for any $X$?
I know the proof of the fact that $M_n(\mathbb{C})$ ...
- 355
14
votes
0
answers
861
views
strong topologies on $C_c^\infty$
UPDATE (27/08/2020): I realized after a comment from Jochen Wengenroth that there was at least one false premise behind my question, owing to the fact that analysts sometimes use the words "...
- 486
14
votes
1
answer
524
views
Is Bing's countable connected space topologically homogeneous?
In this paper R.H. Bing has constructed his famous example of a countable connected Hausdorff space.
The Bing space $\mathbb B$ is the rational half-plane $\{(x,y)\in\mathbb Q\times \mathbb Q:y\ge 0\...
- 41.9k
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is there a universal property characterizing the category of compact Hausdorff spaces?
This is in some sense a follow up to the question asked here Properties of the category of compact Hausdorff spaces
To clarify: The category $\text{Prof}$ of profinite sets sits inside the category $\...
- 2,303
14
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What is a monoidal metric space?
At time of writing, the highest rated answer to my question What is a metric space? is Tom Leinster's account of Lawvere's description of a metric space as an enriched category. This prompted my ...
- 26.8k
14
votes
0
answers
633
views
Classes of (non-continuous) functions with the fixed point property
Let $K$ be a convex body in $ R^d$. (Say, a ball, say a cube...) For which classes $ \cal C$ of functions, every function $ f \in {\cal C}$ which takes $K$ into itself admits a fixed point in $K$.
...
- 24.7k