L^2 convergence implies a.e. pointwise convergence? Since when?

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SUMMARY

If a sequence of measurable functions \( f_n \) converges to a function \( f \) in the \( L^2 \) norm, then there exists a subsequence \( f_{n_k} \) that converges pointwise almost everywhere to \( f \). This result is established through theorems and lemmas regarding convergence in measure and almost everywhere convergence. The proof utilizes properties of measure and the relationship between \( L^2 \) convergence and convergence in measure, ultimately referencing Billingsley's "Probability and Measure" for further exploration.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of \( L^2 \) norm and convergence
  • Familiarity with measure theory concepts
  • Knowledge of subsequences and their properties
  • Basic functional analysis terminology
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the implications of \( L^p \) convergence in functional analysis
  • Learn about the relationship between convergence in measure and almost everywhere convergence
  • Explore theorems related to subsequences in measure theory
  • Read Billingsley's "Probability and Measure" for detailed proofs and examples
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Mathematicians, particularly those specializing in functional analysis, measure theory, and probability, will benefit from this discussion, as well as students seeking to deepen their understanding of convergence concepts in analysis.

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My functional analysis professor made the following assertion the other day: If f_n \to f in the L^2 norm, then there is a subsequence f_{n_k} that converges pointwise almost everywhere to f. This is the first I've heard of that...can someone point me to a proof of this proposition? Does it have a name?
 
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To my knowledge, it doesn't have a name. I'll write the proof down for you: (I also assume that you are working in Lp(R)).

DEFINITION: Let fn be a measurable function. We say that fn converges in measure to f if for each \epsilon>0

\lambda\{|f_n-f|>\epsilon\}\rightarrow 0

THEOREM: If fn converges to f in the L2-norm, then the convergence is also in measure.

PROOF: \lambda\{|f_n-f|>\epsilon\}\leq \int_{\{|f_n-f|>\epsilon\}}{1dx}\leq\frac{1}{\epsilon^p}\int{|f_n-f|^p}\rightarrow 0

Now we need some facts about convergence almost everywhere:

THEOREM: The following are equivalent:
(1) fn converges to f a.e.
(2) \lambda{(\limsup\{|f_n-f|>\epsilon\})}=0

I'll assume you already seen this theorem. Otherwise, I'll prove it.

LEMMA: If for all \epsilon>0 holds that \sum_{n=1}^{+\infty}{\lambda\{|f_n-f|>\epsilon\}}<+\infty, then fn converges to f a.e.

PROOF \lambda{(\limsup\{|f_n-f|>\epsilon\})}=\lim_{n\rightarrow+\infty}\lambda\left( \bigcup_{m=n}{\{|f_m-f|>\epsilon\}}\right)

This limit is 0, since

\lambda\left( \bigcup_{m=n}{\{|f_m-f|>\epsilon\}}\right)\leq \sum_{m=n}^{+\infty}{\lambda\{|f_m-f|>\epsilon\}}\rightarrow 0


Now we can finally prove the result:

THEOREM Assume that fn converges to f in measure, then there is a subsequence fnk that converges to f a.e.

PROOF Choose a subsequence fnk such that \lambda\{|f_{n_k}-f|>1/k\}\leq 1/k^2. Then

\sum_{k=1}^{+\infty}{\lambda\{|f_{n_k}-f|>\epsilon\}}<+\infty

Thus our subsequence converges a.e.


If something about the previous proof is not clear, then feel free to ask. If you rather want a reference: I got this proof from Billingsley's "Probability and measure". But the proof is a bit spread out, so you will have to do some searching...
 

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