Densely defined linear operators on Hilbert space and their ranges

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of densely defined linear operators on Hilbert spaces, specifically whether an injective operator implies that its range is dense in the Hilbert space. Participants reference various sources, including textbooks and personal notes, to explore this question.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the range of an injective linear operator T, densely defined on a Hilbert space, is necessarily dense in that space, citing conflicting information from their professor's notes and a textbook by Kreyszig.
  • Another participant argues against the claim, providing a counterexample using the map from \(\ell^2\) that is injective but has a range that is not dense.
  • A different participant suggests that the statement may hold true for invertible operators, which are densely defined operators with a densely defined inverse, and questions if this was the intended meaning of the professor's notes.
  • Further clarification is sought regarding the definition of "invertible operator," with a participant explaining that an operator is considered invertible if there exists another operator that meets specific domain and range conditions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether the range of an injective operator is dense in the Hilbert space. Some agree that this is not necessarily true, while others suggest that the discussion may relate to invertible operators, indicating a lack of consensus.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference theorems and definitions that may depend on specific contexts or interpretations, such as the spectral theory of linear operators on Banach spaces. The discussion includes unresolved assumptions about the definitions of injective and invertible operators.

AxiomOfChoice
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Suppose [itex]T[/itex] is an injective linear operator densely defined on a Hilbert space [itex]\mathcal H[/itex]. Does it follow that [itex]\mathcal R(T)[/itex] is dense in [itex]\mathcal H[/itex]? It seems right, but I can't make the proof work...

There is a theorem that speaks to this issue in Kreyszig, and also in the notes provided by my professor; however, my professor's notes seem to indicate that the answer to the above question is "YES", whereas Kreyszig seems to indicate that it's "NO".

Oh...and if micromass reads this, then: Thank you, so much, for helping me out over the past several days.
 
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Not at all, assuming that R(T) refers to the range of T. Let [itex]H=\ell^2[/itex], and consider the map [itex](x_1, x_2, x_3, \ldots) \mapsto (0, x_1, x_2, x_3, \ldots)[/itex]. This is everywhere defined, injective, and even continuous, but the range is not dense in H.
 
It's (by definition) true for invertible operators however (that is: densely defined operators with a densely defined inverse). Maybe your professor meant that??
 
micromass said:
It's (by definition) true for invertible operators however (that is: densely defined operators with a densely defined inverse). Maybe your professor meant that??

That is indeed possible. This all revolves around a theorem which intends to prove that [itex]T^*[/itex] is injective and [itex](T^*)^{-1} = (T^{-1})^*[/itex].

I'm interested in your definition of "invertible operator", though...this is the first time I've heard that! Does that pertain to something specific (i.e., spectral theory of linear operators on Banach spaces)?
 
Citan Uzuki said:
Not at all, assuming that R(T) refers to the range of T. Let [itex]H=\ell^2[/itex], and consider the map [itex](x_1, x_2, x_3, \ldots) \mapsto (0, x_1, x_2, x_3, \ldots)[/itex]. This is everywhere defined, injective, and even continuous, but the range is not dense in H.

Great. Thanks a lot.
 
AxiomOfChoice said:
That is indeed possible. This all revolves around a theorem which intends to prove that [itex]T^*[/itex] is injective and [itex](T^*)^{-1} = (T^{-1})^*[/itex].

I'm interested in your definition of "invertible operator", though...this is the first time I've heard that! Does that pertain to something specific (i.e., spectral theory of linear operators on Banach spaces)?

Well, an operator T with dense domain D(T) is invertible if there exists an operator S with dense domain D(S) such that D(T)=R(S), D(S)=R(T) and STx=x for all x.

Since your theorem deals with invertible operators, I think that this is indeed the case here...
 

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