All Questions
389 questions
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,...
59
votes
7
answers
29k
views
Learning roadmap for harmonic analysis
In short, I am interested to know of the various approaches one could take to learn modern harmonic analysis in depth. However, the question deserves additional details. Currently, I am reading Loukas ...
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 "...
44
votes
10
answers
47k
views
Is square of Delta function defined somewhere?
I am wondering whether anyone knows if the square of Dirac Delta function is defined somewhere.
In the beginning, this question might look strange. But by restricting the space of the test functions, ...
33
votes
1
answer
2k
views
For which maps $S^1\to S^1$ is the winding number defined?
There are two classes of maps $S^1\to S^1$ for which I know how to define the winding number:
• Continuous maps:
Using the unique path lifting property of the universal covering map $\mathbb R\to S^...
29
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Furstenberg's Conjecture on 2-3-invariant continuous probability measures on the circle
Hillel Furstenberg conjectured that the only $2$-$3$-invariant probability measure on the circle without atoms is the Lebesgue measure. More precisely:
Question: (Furstenberg) Let $\mu$ be a ...
27
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Nice applications for Schwartz distributions
I am to teach a second year grad course in analysis with focus on Schwartz distributions. Among the core topics I intend to cover are:
Some multilinear algebra including the Kernel Theorem and ...
27
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What can be said about the Fourier transforms of characteristic functions?
What can be said about the Fourier transform of the characteristic function $1_A$, where $A\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ is of finite Lebesgue measure? In particular,
What properties are common to ...
25
votes
1
answer
8k
views
Convergence of Fourier Series of $L^1$ Functions
I recently learned of the result by Carleson and Hunt (1968) which states that if $f \in L^p$ for $p > 1$, then the Fourier series of $f$ converges to $f$ pointwise-a.e. Also, Wikipedia informs me ...
24
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can Hölder's Inequality be strengthened for smooth functions?
Is there an $\epsilon>0$ so that for every nonnegative integrable function $f$ on the reals,
$$\frac{\| f \ast f \|_\infty \| f \ast f \|_1}{\|f \ast f \|_2^2} > 1+\epsilon?$$
Of course, we ...
24
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is there a 'certainty' principle?
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is a restriction on which probability distributions can describe the position and momentum of a quantum particle.
In mathematical terms it says that if $\psi\in L^2$ ...
23
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Laplace Transform in the context of Gelfand/Pontryagin
Questions:
Is there a class of objects (presumably related to locally compact abelian groups) for which the quasi-characters canonically generalize the Laplace transform?
If not, is there a ...
21
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there an L^p tauberian theorem?
From Wiener's tauberian theorem we know that linear combinations of translates of f \in L^1(R) are dense in L^1(R) if and only if the Fourier transform of f never vanishes. It is also known that ...
19
votes
1
answer
5k
views
A Fourier-analytic inequality used by Jean Bourgain
I am currently reading Jean Bourgain's 1986 paper A Szemerédi type theorem for sets of positive density in $R^k$ and would appreciate some help in understanding a Fourier-analytic estimate used in ...
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 ...
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.
...
15
votes
2
answers
681
views
Are Fourier transforms of L^p stable under diffeomorphisms?
Let $\xi$ be a compactly supported distribution on $\mathbb R^n$ and assume that its Fourier transform is in $L^p$. Let $\phi:\mathbb R^n\to\mathbb R^n$ be a diffeomorphism. Does the Fourier ...
14
votes
2
answers
588
views
Heuristic interpretation of the 'third index' for Besov and Triebel-Lizorkin spaces
For $p,q \in (0,\infty)$ and $s \in \mathbb{R}$, one can define certain function spaces, $B_s^{p,q}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ and $F_s^{p,q}(\mathbb{R}^n)$, the Besov and Triebel-Lizorkin spaces respectively. ...
14
votes
0
answers
3k
views
Tanh version of a Fourier Transform?
I am trying to perform some computations in an environment where it is much easier to compute the hyperbolic tangent function (tanh) than cosines or sines. This prevents me from performing Fourier ...
13
votes
3
answers
710
views
Completeness of nonharmonic Fourier Series
I have the following question:
The Exponential System $(\exp(2\pi i n \cdot ))_{n\in \mathbb{Z}}$ constitutes an orthonormal basis of $L^2([-1/2,1/2])$.
Thus, certainly the oversampled system $\Phi:...
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Low-degree polynomial approximation of the piecewise-linear function $x \mapsto \max(x, 0)$ on an interval $x \in [-R,R]$
For $R > 0$, consider the piecewise-linear function $\sigma_R: [-R,R] \rightarrow \mathbb R^+$, defined by $\sigma_R(x) := \max(x,0)$.
Question
Given $\epsilon> 0$, find a "low-degree" ...
12
votes
1
answer
727
views
A generalization of Rubio de Francia's inequality
Suppose that $\{I_m\}$ is a sequence of pairwise disjoint intervals in $\mathbb{Z}$. The well known Rubio de Francia's inequality says that for any function $f\in L^p(\mathbb{T})$, $2\le p<\infty$, ...
11
votes
1
answer
668
views
Is every continuous endomorphism of the Schwartz space a pseudo-differential operator?
Let $\mathcal{S}:= \mathcal{S}(\mathbb{R}^n)$ be the Schwartz space of smooth functions with rapid decay. The question is pretty simply stated in the title. Pseudo-differential act continuously on the ...
11
votes
2
answers
8k
views
About the Fourier transform of the logarithm function
I want to calculate / simplify:
$$\mathcal{F} (\ln(|x|)\mathcal{F(f)}(x))=\mathcal{F} (\ln(|x|)) \star f$$
where $\mathcal{F}$ is the Fourier transform ($\mathcal[f](\xi)=\int_{\mathbb R}f(x)e^{ix\...
11
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Understanding Bruhat's notion of Schwartz function
I am trying to understand Bruhat's generalized Schwartz functions over (Hausforff) locally compact Abelian groups [1], following this paper [2] by Osborne. There, the Schwartz-Bruhat space $\mathscr{...
11
votes
1
answer
692
views
discontinuous functions on the Sobolev borderline
The Sobolev embedding theorem implies that every function of class $W^{k,p}$ on a reasonable $n$-dimensional domain is continuous if $kp > n$. Cases with $kp=n$ are known as "borderline" ...
11
votes
1
answer
691
views
Reference request: Fourier transform on the multiplicative group of real numbers
Let us consider the three groups $(\mathbb{R},+)$, $(\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z},+)$ and $(\mathbb{R}^\times,\cdot)$ (where $\mathbb{R}^\times := \mathbb{R} \setminus \{0\}$). We endow $\mathbb{R}$ with ...
11
votes
0
answers
707
views
What is the asymptotics of the Fourier transform of $\exp(-x^4)$ for large wave numbers?
The Fourier transform of $\exp(-x^4)$ has an analytical expression, it's the difference of two generalized hypergeometric functions:
$\int d x \ e^{-x^4} e^{ikx} = 2 \ \Gamma(\frac{5}{4}) \ _0F_2(;\...
11
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Is the Fourier-Transform a bounded operator on Lorentz spaces L(2,q)?
It is well known that the Fourier transform $\mathcal{F}$ maps $L^1(\mathbb{R}^n)$ continuously into $L^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n)$ and $L^2(\mathbb{R}^n)$ continuously into $L^2(\mathbb{R}^n)$.
Then, by ...
10
votes
5
answers
1k
views
What is a rigorous statement for "linear time-invariant systems can be represented as convolutions"?
In Signal Processing books, a fundamental theorem is that linear time invariant systems can be represented as a convolution with a distribution. Could you give a mathematically rigorous statement of ...
10
votes
1
answer
680
views
A problem concerning $L^2([0,1]\times[0,1])$
Trying to solve a conjecture in differential geometry, I am leaded to the following problem (which may seem weird to a analyst). I wonder if anyone know some techniques that happen to solve it.
Let $...
10
votes
1
answer
433
views
Shift invariant subspaces of $l^1$
There is a simple characterization of shift-invariant closed subspaces of $l^2$: for any measurable subset $S$ of $\mathbb{T} = \mathbb{R}/2\pi\mathbb{Z}$, the set of elements of $l^2$ whose Fourier ...
10
votes
1
answer
586
views
Nonlinear Schrödinger equation with discrete Laplacian
In the paper "Global existence and scattering for rough solutions of a nonlinear Schrödinger equation on $\mathbb{R}^3$" by Colliander, Keel, Staffilani, Takaoka and Tao it is argued in the beginning ...
9
votes
2
answers
758
views
Number of critical points of smooth functions on $S^1$
Let $u$ be a smooth function on the unit circle $S^1$ such that $\int_{S^1}ux_j=0$, for $j=1,2$. Is the number of critical points of $u$ strictly bigger than 2?
9
votes
1
answer
912
views
The Fourier transform of a function supported on $B_1$ is essentially constant on $B_1$?
I'm going through the last steps of Bourgain and Demeter's proof of the $l^2$ decoupling conjecture, but I'm unable to see how the first inequality in (43) goes through. I'll water down the question a ...
9
votes
1
answer
639
views
Prove J.L. Lions’s Lemma without using Fourier transform
When I read the book Linear and Nonlinear Functional Analysis with Applications, I came across J.L. Lions's Lemma (the book doesn't give a proof), which states
Let $\Omega \subset \mathbb R^n$ be a ...
9
votes
1
answer
916
views
Inverse Fourier transform of an $L^2$ function as limit on balls
$B_m :=\{x \in \Bbb R^n : ||x|| \le m\}$ and $\mathscr{F}f$
denotes the $L^2$ fourier transform of an $f \in L^2(\Bbb R^n)$.
I am trying to show that
If $f \in L^2(\Bbb R^n)$ then $f(y)=\lim\limits_{...
8
votes
2
answers
3k
views
$L^p$-norm of Fourier series in terms of coefficients, $p \neq 2$
It is known that the $L^2$-norm of a Fourier series equals the $l^2$-norm of the coefficients. Are there similar results in the case of $L^p$-norm for $p\neq 2$? Can it be expressed explicitly in ...
8
votes
2
answers
613
views
Pairs of elementary Fourier transforms in $L^2$
It is customary to teach Fourier transform on the real line by starting with functions from $L^1$, $L^2$ or the Schwartz space. It is not so easy to illustrate the theory by computing explicit pairs ...
8
votes
1
answer
722
views
Bounding the discrete $l^p$ norm by the continuous $L^p$ norm for trigonometric polynomials
Let $ X_N = \text{span} \{\cos(2\pi lx): l=0, \cdots, N-1 \} $ with $ x \in [0, 1] $ and $ Y_N = \{v =(v_0, \cdots, v_{N-1}): v_j \in \mathbb{C}\} = \mathbb{C}^N $. Then $ X_N $ is the space of ...
8
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the simplest oscillatory integral for which sharp bounds are unknown?
I have either heard or read that sharp asymptotics and bounds for oscillatory integrals of the form
$ \int e^{i \lambda \Phi(x)} \psi(x) dx \quad \lambda \to \infty $
are unknown when the critical ...
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Fastest decay of Fourier Transform for Generalized Functions of compact support
What is the fastest decay possible for the Fourier transform of a generalized function with compact support and finite value at the origin? I know that regular functions cannot attain exponential ...
8
votes
1
answer
496
views
A fractional weighted Poincaré inequality
Does there exists a constant $C>0$ such that
$$ \int_{-1}^1 \lvert x\rvert\lvert\partial_x u\rvert^2 \,dx \geq C\, \lVert u\rVert^2_{H^{1/2}((-1,1))},$$
for all $u\in C^{\infty}_0((-1,1))$?
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Recent progress on Bochner-Riesz conjecture
Consider the family of operators $T_\delta$, $\delta \geq 0$, defined on $\mathbb{R}^n$ by
$
\widehat{T_\delta f}(\xi) = (1-|\xi|^2)_+^\delta \widehat{f}(\xi).
$
($(1-|\xi|^2)_+^\delta$ are known as ...
8
votes
1
answer
491
views
Functional equation with Fourier transform and $\frac{1}{x} f(\frac{1}{x}) $
What are the continuous functions $f$ such that on $\mathbb{R}^{+*}$, they satisfy following functional equation:
$$\int_0^\infty f(t) e^{-itx} \, dt =\lambda \frac{1}{x} f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)$$
$\...
8
votes
0
answers
167
views
A basis of the Banach space $L^p(\mathbb T^\omega)$ consisting of characters
Problem: For $1<p<\infty$, $p\ne 2$, has the complex Banach space $L^p(\mathbb T^\omega)$ got a Schauder basis consisting of characters of the compact topological group $\mathbb T^\omega$?
(...
8
votes
0
answers
751
views
The log kernel and Bochner Theorem
I was wondering if it possible to find a measure $\eta$ on $\mathbb{R}$ such that
$$
L(x):=\log\frac{1}{|x|}=\int e^{itx}\;d\eta(t)
$$
for every $x\in [0,1/2]$.
On a structural ground, this ...
8
votes
0
answers
349
views
Finding a dimension-free bound for a certain multiplier on Euclidean space
The following question is indirectly motivated by strong type maximal function estimates. Let $f\in L_{p}(\mathbb{R}^{n})$. For $\xi=(\xi_{1},\ldots,\xi_{n})\in\mathbb{R}^{n}$ define $m(\xi)$ so ...
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Where does the Laplace transform come from?
The Gelfand transform on the commutative Banach *-algebra $L^1(\mathbb{R})$ is just the Fourier transform.
Q. What can we say concerning the Laplace transform?
7
votes
3
answers
6k
views
Integral kernel for the resolvent of the laplace operator
Consider the Laplace operator defined in the biggest possible subset of $L^2(\mathbb{R}^2)$ and let $z \in \mathbb{C}\backslash\mathbb{R}$. Therefore $z \notin \sigma (\Delta)$ the spectrum of $\Delta$...