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20 votes
8 answers
12k views

Can a self-adjoint operator have a continuous set of eigenvalues?

This should be a trivial question for mathematicians but not for typical physicists. I know that the spectrum of a linear operator on a Banach space splits into the so-called "point," "continuous" ...
Mahdiyar's user avatar
  • 355
11 votes
2 answers
2k views

Schur's Lemma for Hilbert spaces

Let $H$ be a complex Hilbert space and let a group $G$ act on $H$ such that there are no invariant closed subspaces besides $H$ and $(0)$. Let $D$ be the ring of bounded operators which commute with ...
David E Speyer's user avatar
11 votes
0 answers
388 views

Von Neumann Inequality in Banach spaces

It is known that the only Banach space that satisfies the von-Neumann inequality is the Hilbert space: Theorem (see e.g. Pisier, "Similarity Problems and Completely Bounded Maps", p 27) For a Banach ...
erz's user avatar
  • 5,529
9 votes
5 answers
870 views

Abelianization of GL(H)

This is related to Theo's question about the abelianizations of finite dimensionsal Lie groups. I am interested in a specific (infinite-dimensional) case of the above question. Let H be an infinite-...
Mike Hartglass's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
516 views

Why operator systems?

A $\mathrm{C}^*$-algebra $\mathcal{A}\subset B(\mathsf{H})$ is a norm-closed, self-adjoint subalgebra of bounded operators on a Hilbert space. If we then take a unital self-adjoint (possibly closed) ...
JP McCarthy's user avatar
  • 1,027
9 votes
1 answer
667 views

Reference for "Every compact quasinilpotent operator is the limit of nilpotent ones"

It was mentioned on Page 916 Problem 7 of Halmos's "Ten Problems in Hilbert space" that there is a proof for "Every compact quasinilpotent operator is the limit of nilpotent ones" ...
Rye's user avatar
  • 191
8 votes
1 answer
393 views

A question about comparison of positive self-adjoint operators

I have the following question but have no idea on its proof (one direction is trivial): Let $A$ and $B$ be (bounded) positive self-adjoint operators on a complex Hilbert space $H$. Prove that $$\...
Lao-tzu's user avatar
  • 1,906
8 votes
1 answer
570 views

Comparing the definitions of $K$-theory and $K$-homology for $C^*$-algebras

In Higson and Roe's Analytic K-homology, for a unital $C*$-algebra $A$, the definitions of K-theory and K-homology have quite a similar flavor. Roughly, the group $K_0(A)$ is given by the ...
Dave Shulman's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
297 views

Finite-dimensional Hilbert $C^*$-modules

Does there exist a classification, or characterization, of finite-dimensional Hilbert $C^*$-modules? More generally, does there exist a characterization of countable direct sums of finite-dimensional ...
Max Schattman's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
276 views

Characterize this subspace of the bounded operators on $ L^2(\mathbb{R}) $

I posted this on MSE a couple months ago and it got three upvotes but no answers or even comments so I decided to cross-post it here: For every pair $ a,b $ of real numbers define the operator $ U_{a,...
Ian Gershon Teixeira's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
787 views

A spectral description of Fredholm operators

Let $L:H \to H$ be a bounded operator on a Hilbert space $H$, with finite dimensional kernel, and whose adjoint also has finite dimensional kernel. Is it true that $L$ is Fredholm if and only if its ...
Max Schattman's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

Unbounded version of continuous functional calculus

For a normal operator $T$ on a Hilbert space ${\cal H}$, it is well known that for any continuous complex valued function $f$ on the spectrum of $T$, we have a well-defined operator $f(T) \in B({\cal ...
Dave Shulman's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
765 views

An equivalence relation on the space of polynomials in one complex variable

Let $P(z)$ be a polynomial with complex variable $z$. We consider the following distribution for the roots of $P(z)=0$: the distribution is a triple $(n_{1},n_{2},n_{3})$ where these integers are ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
119 views

Tensoring adjointable maps on Hilbert modules

Given a right Hilbert $A$-module $E$, and a right Hilbert $B$-module $F$, together with non-degenerate $*$-homomorphism $\phi:A \to \mathcal{L}_B(F)$, we can form the tensor product $$ E \otimes_{\phi}...
Dave Shulman's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
170 views

Do projections in an $AW^\ast$-algebra form an orthomodular lattice?

I’m currently studying orthomodular lattices arising out of operator algebras. One of the most standard examples is the projection lattice of a von Neumann algebra - if $M$ acts on a Hilbert space $H$,...
David Gao's user avatar
  • 2,830
6 votes
0 answers
175 views

Functional calculus for the Dolbeault operator over Hilbert C*-modules

$\newcommand{\odd}{\mathrm{odd}}\newcommand{\even}{\mathrm{even}}$Let $X$ be a complex manifold, you can assume it's compact, if necessary. We have the Dolbeault complex $$0 \rightarrow \mathcal{A}^{0,...
Kashayar's user avatar
  • 146
5 votes
2 answers
642 views

Non-standard tensor products of inner product spaces

For two inner product spaces $(\mathcal{V}, (\cdot,\cdot)_V)$ and $(\mathcal{W}, (\cdot,\cdot)_W)$, we can put an inner product on their tensor product in the obvious way: $$ (1) ~~~~ \langle v \...
Pierre Dubois's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
334 views

Iterated limits equal?

Consider the Banach algebra $B_2(H)$ of Hilbert Schmidt operators on a Hilbert space $H$ with Hilbert Schmidt norm. We know that $B_2(H)$ is a Hilbert space as well with $\left<A,B\right>=tr(B^*...
NewB's user avatar
  • 243
5 votes
1 answer
516 views

Stinespring's dilation without $C^{\ast}$-algebras

Does Stinespring's dilation theorem hold if the algebra of interest is a topological $\ast$-algebra instead of the usual $C^{\ast}$-algebra? I will now state the version of Stinespring's dilation ...
sunspots's user avatar
  • 161
5 votes
1 answer
385 views

hereditary C*-subalgebra of a non-elementary simple C*-algebra

A is said to be elementary if A is isomorphic to some $K(H)$ or $M_n$. A C*-subalgebra $B$ is said to be hereditary if for every $0≤a≤b∈B$ we have $a∈B$. I wanted to know that is this statement true? ...
Peg Leg Jonathan's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
273 views

Is a set of nuclear functionals equicontinuous in compact-open topology if it is equicontinuous on each compact set?

Let $H$ be a Hilbert space and $B(H)$ be its space of all (bounded) operators. A nuclear functional on $B(H)$ is a linear functional $f:B(H)\to{\mathbb C}$ that can be represented in the form $$ f(A)=\...
Sergei Akbarov's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
357 views

Extending maps from dense $*$-algebras of $C^*$-algebras

Given $\cal{A},\cal{B}$ two dense $*$-algebras of two $C^*$-algebras $A$ and $B$ respectively, together with a $*$-algebra homomorphism $f:\cal{A} \to \cal{B}$, is it clear that $f$ extends to a ...
Max Schattman's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
157 views

Geometric Motivation for Hilbert $C^*$-Bimodules

I'm trying to get an understanding of Hilbert $C^*$-bi-modules from a geometric point of view. As is well-known, we have that i) Commutative unital $C^*$-algebras correspond to compact Hausdorff ...
Ago Szekeres's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
384 views

A Hilbert-space completion of a Hilbert $ C^{*} $-module over a separable $ C^{*} $-algebra

Let $ B $ be a separable $ C^{*} $-algebra and $ \mathcal{E} $ a Hilbert $ B $-module. We know that $ B $ has a faithful state $ \phi $. Using $ \phi $, we can construct a $ \mathbb{C} $-valued pre-...
Transcendental's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
386 views

Invertible unbounded linear maps defined on a Hilbert space

It is well-known that, assuming the axiom of choice, there are unbounded linear maps defined not only on a dense subset but on all of Hilbert space. Is it possible that such a map is invertible?
Arnold Neumaier's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
371 views

Motivation for Heisenberg's modeling of observables

What's the motivation for observables to be modeled by self-adjoint operators? I can't seem to find any place where this is laid out clearly. Maybe von Neumann's book is decent, but it's not ...
MrPajeet's user avatar
  • 433
4 votes
1 answer
110 views

Graded adjointable operators on a graded Hilbert space

Given a graded Hilbert space $\mathbf{H} = \bigoplus_{k \in \mathbb{N}} \mathbf{H}_k$, one might extend the notion of adjoint to a "graded adjoint" defined as follows: $L \in B(\mathbf{H})$ is said to ...
Dave Shulman's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
196 views

A kind of holomorphicity of maps on Hilbert space

Let $H$ be an infinite dimensional seperable Hilbert space. Is there an Irreducible involutive sub algebra $D$ of $B(H)$ with the following properties?: 1)For every open set $U\subset H$ and every ...
Ali Taghavi's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
152 views

Maximally fine topologies on $B(H)$ making the unit ball compact

Let $H$ be a Hilbert space, and $B(H)$ its algebra of bounded operators. One of the reasons the Ultraweak topology is (in a way) more useful than the weak operator topology is that the Ultraweak ...
Aareyan Manzoor's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
160 views

Solution without using any k-theory tools

Let $A$ be the UHF-algebra of type $2^{\infty}$. Suppose that $p$ and $q$ are two projections in $A$ and $\tau(p) = \tau(q)$, where $\tau$ is the unique normalized trace. Then there is a partail ...
Peg Leg Jonathan's user avatar
4 votes
0 answers
185 views

A strongly open set which is not measurable in the weak operator topology

Let $H$ be a non-separable Hilbert space and $\{e_i\}_{i\in I}$ be an orthonormal basis for $H$. Let $J$ be a uncountable proper subset in $I$. Let us put $$E=\{x\in B(H): \lVert xe_j\rVert <1: \...
ABB's user avatar
  • 4,058
3 votes
1 answer
214 views

Non-point spectrum for diagonalisable self-adjoint unbounded operator

Given a (separable) Hilbert space H and an unbounded densely defined linear operator $T:{\cal D}(T) \to $H such that ${\cal D}$ is diagonalizable (it means $\exists$ an O.N.B. of H such that all basis ...
Dave Shulman's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
228 views

Symmetric diagonalizable operators and self-adjointness

Given a densely defined symmetric operator $L$ on a Hilbert space $H$, which is also assumed to be diagonalizable, will there always exist a unique extension of $L$ to a self-adjoint operator?
Milan Bernolak's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
332 views

Takesaki II Lemma 1.13: stuck in proof

Consider the following fragment from Takesaki's book "Theory of operator algebras II" (Lemma 1.13 on p8, in chapter VI "Left Hilbert algebras"): Here, we associate with an ...
Andromeda's user avatar
  • 175
3 votes
1 answer
475 views

Extension of a bounded linear functional

Let $\mathcal{H}$ be a finite-dimensional Hilbert space and $\mathcal{A}\subseteq\mathcal{B(\mathcal{H})}$ be an operator system. Suppose $T_n$ is a collection of all $n$-by-$n$ matrices equipped with ...
Piku's user avatar
  • 231
3 votes
1 answer
266 views

Convergence of nuclear operators

Let $H$ be a separable infinite-dimensional real Hilbert space. We consider operators in $H.$ Nuclear norm of a nuclear operator is the sum of its singular values. A nuclear, positive and self-...
Alexander Kukush's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Self-adjoint bounded operator, resolution of the identity, def. of the diagonal

Let $A$ be a self adjoint bounded linear operator with a continuous spectrum $\sigma(A)=[a,b]$ which acts on a separable Hilbert space. Let $E_\lambda$ be its resolution of the identity. For ...
Yakov Dymarskii's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
135 views

Unicellular compact operators

An operator $T$ on a separable Hilbert space $H$ is called unicellular if any two closed invariant subspaces $M$ and $N$ are comparable; that is either $M\subseteq N$ or $N\subseteq M$. There are many ...
Markus's user avatar
  • 1,361
3 votes
1 answer
260 views

norm estimates for Schatten class

Let $C _p$ be the Schatten-p-classes on a separable Hilbert spaces, $p\ge 1$. Let ${\rm Tr}$ be the standard trace. Let $y\in C_p$ be a self-adjoint operator (or even a positive operator) and let $...
user92646's user avatar
  • 617
3 votes
0 answers
152 views

Whether a projection can "overlap" certain projections yet not commute with them

Question here about how the projections of a von Neumann algebra $\mathcal{R}$ might be arranged, relative to a projection that is not in $\mathcal{R}$. Stipulate the following:     $H$ is ...
Doug McLellan's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
144 views

Deformation and Representations

Let $\widetilde{U_q(sl_n)}$ denote a deformation of the algebra $U_q(sl_n)$. In particular, $\widetilde{U_q(sl_n)}$ is defined by the same generators and relations and $*$-operations as $U_q(sl_n)$ ...
Kendra Haynes's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
94 views

Fredholmness of formal selfadjoint operator $AA^*$ and Fredholmenss of $A$

Let $X$ and $Y$ be Hilbert spaces with respective inner products $\langle , \rangle_{X,Y}$. Let $A:X \rightarrow Y$ be a bounded linear operator. Assume there is a non-degenerate sesquilinear product $...
inquisitor's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
411 views

Problem of convergence of the following sequence

Let $E$ be a complex Hilbert space, with inner product $\langle\cdot\;, \;\cdot\rangle$ and the norm $\|\cdot\|$. Let $T\in \mathcal{L}(E)$ be bounded linear operators from $E$ to $E$ and $M\in \...
Schüler's user avatar
  • 724
2 votes
1 answer
237 views

On spectral calculus and commutation of operators

Let $\mathcal{H}$ be a Hilbert space, $B\in\mathcal{B}(\mathcal{H})$ be bounded and self-adjoint and $A:\mathcal{D}(A)\to\mathcal{H}$ closed (but not necessarily self-adjoint or bounded). The ...
B.Hueber's user avatar
  • 1,161
2 votes
2 answers
260 views

Bounded operators leaving dense subspace invariant

Let $A$ be a C$^*$-algebra. A pre-Hilbert $A$-module $H$ is a right $A$ module with a $A$-valued inner product (which is linear in the second variable and conjugate linear in the first variable) such ...
heller's user avatar
  • 481
2 votes
1 answer
926 views

Eigenvalues and Compact Resolvent

For $A$ an unbounded (densely defined) operator on a separable Hilbert space, what conditions on its eigenvalues will show that, for $\lambda \notin $spec$(A)$, we have that $(A-\lambda)^{-1}$ is a ...
Juan Corrida's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
178 views

Point spectrum of a positive invertible operator

Let $G$ be a l.c. group and $f$ belong to $C_c(G)$, the space of continuous functions with compact support. Define an operator$T_f$ on $L^2(G)$ by $T_f(g)=f*g$ (the convolution product). If $T_f$ is ...
MSMalekan's user avatar
  • 2,118
2 votes
3 answers
865 views

The multiplier algebra of a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space and its commutant

In my research in the theory of Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces I was concerned with this topic which came up but I could not find a reference on: If $ \mathbb{H} $ is an RKHS and we denote the ...
Don John Prep's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
235 views

Can a sum of commutators of selfadjoint bounded operators be a multiple of the identity?

Let $H$ be an infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, and $a_1,b_1,\ldots,a_k,b_k$ be bounded selfadjoint operators on $H$. Can the sum $\sum_{i=1}^k[a_i,b_i]$ be a (pure imaginary) multiple of the ...
Fabien Besnard's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
335 views

When the adjoint of an unbounded operator on a Hilbert space coincides with the formal adjoint on its natural domain?

This is almost a copy of https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/3931318/when-the-adjoint-of-an-unbounded-operator-on-a-hilbert-space-coincides-with-the I am trying to work with infinite matrices in ...
apyshkin's user avatar