Weak Convergence of a Certain Sequence of Functions

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the weak convergence of a sequence of functions defined as ##f_n(x) = f(x-n)##, where ##f## is a non-negative function in ##L_2(\mathbb{R})##. It is established that ##w-lim_{n \to \infty} f_n = 0##, which implies that for any function ##g \in L_2(\mathbb{R})##, the integral ##\int_\mathbb{R} f(x-n)g(x)\,dx## approaches zero as ##n## approaches infinity. The challenge lies in applying Hölder's inequality effectively while recognizing that the limit and integral cannot be interchanged in this context, as demonstrated with the example of the Gaussian function ##e^{-(x-n)^2}##.

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Given a function in ##f \in L_2(\mathbb{R})-\{0\}## which is non-negative almost everywhere. Then ##w-lim_{n \to \infty} f_n = 0## with ##f_n(x):=f(x-n)##. Why?

##f\in L_2(\mathbb{R})## means ##f## is Lebesgue square integrable, i.e. ##\int_\mathbb{R} |f(x)|^2 \,dx< \infty ##. Weak convergence towards zero means ##\int_\mathbb{R} f(x-n)g(x)\,dx \rightarrow 0 ## for all ##g\in L_2(\mathbb{R})##.

I've tried to solve this with Hölder's inequality, but that leads to
$$
\int_\mathbb{R} f(x-n)g(x)\,dx \le \int_\mathbb{R} |f(x-n)g(x)|\,dx \le C\cdot ||f_n||_2
$$
which would be fine if limit and integral would be allowed to switch. Unfortunately, this is the standard example, where it is not allowed:
$$ \lim_{n \to \infty} \int_\mathbb{R} e^{-(x-n)^2}\,dx = \lim_{n \to \infty} \sqrt{\pi} = \sqrt{\pi} \neq \int_\mathbb{R} \lim_{n \to \infty} e^{-(x-n)^2}\,dx = \int_\mathbb{R} 0 = 0 $$
The bulk of the function ##e^{-(x-n)^2}## if transported to infinity vanishes, but does not in the integral for a fixed ##n##. Thus the boundness of ##f_n## and ##g## will have to be used in a sense, that for large ##n## the bulk of ##f_n## meets an area where ##g## is close to zero and vice versa. I was looking for a nice little Lemma which deals with this situation, but couldn't find one. I also didn't manage to see, where the non-negativity of ##f## comes into play. The way it has been presented in the book makes me think, it's not very difficult, but I simply don't see the trick, i.e. the theorem which allows me to conclude that for large ##n## the product ##f_n \cdot g## is close enough to zero at the critical locations where ##g## isn't, resp. ##f_n## isn't. My suspicion is, that this is the reason for ##f(x) \ge 0 \text{ a.e. }## to avoid situations where negative function values can compensate.

Is there a theorem which quantifies this intuition?
 
Last edited:
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