4.1 Open Mapping Theorem: statement, proof, and applications

3 min readjuly 22, 2024

The is a cornerstone of functional analysis. It states that surjective bounded linear operators between map open sets to open sets, a powerful result with far-reaching implications.

This theorem's proof relies on the and leads to important applications. It's crucial for establishing other key results like the and the , shaping our understanding of linear operators.

The Open Mapping Theorem

Open Mapping Theorem statement

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  • Asserts that a TT between Banach spaces XX and YY is an open map
    • Maps open sets in XX to open sets in YY
  • Requires key assumptions:
    • XX and YY are complete normed vector spaces (Banach spaces)
    • TT is a ()
    • TT is onto, meaning for every yYy \in Y, there exists an xXx \in X such that T(x)=yT(x) = y (surjective)

Proof using Baire Category Theorem

  • Proves by contradiction, assuming TT is not an open map
  • Supposes an open set UU in XX exists such that T(U)T(U) is not open in YY
    • Implies a point y0T(U)y_0 \in T(U) exists where no open ball around y0y_0 is contained in T(U)T(U)
  • Constructs a sequence of closed sets Fn=T(nU)F_n = \overline{T(nU)}, where nU={nx:xU}nU = \{nx : x \in U\}
    • Each FnF_n is closed due to TT's continuity and nUnU's closure
  • Covers YY with the union of FnF_n, Y=n=1FnY = \bigcup_{n=1}^{\infty} F_n
    • TT's surjectivity ensures for every yYy \in Y, an xXx \in X exists with T(x)=yT(x) = y
    • Scaling xx yields an nn where xnUx \in nU, implying yT(nU)Fny \in T(nU) \subseteq F_n
  • Applies the Baire Category Theorem to conclude one FnF_n must have a non-empty interior
    • Assumes FNF_N has a non-empty interior, with an open ball B(y1,r)FNB(y_1, r) \subseteq F_N contained in FNF_N
  • Deduces B(y1,r)T(NU)B(y_1, r) \subseteq T(NU), contradicting the assumption that no open ball around y0y_0 is contained in T(U)T(U)
  • Concludes TT must be an open map

Surjectivity of linear operators

  • Establishes that an T:XYT: X \to Y between Banach spaces is surjective if and only if T(X)T(X) is closed in YY
    • Surjectivity implies T(X)=YT(X) = Y, which is closed
    • T(X)T(X)'s closure, combined with the Open Mapping Theorem, implies TT is an open map
    • TT's injectivity makes it a bijection between XX and T(X)T(X)
    • T(X)T(X)'s closure makes it a , and the Inverse Mapping Theorem ensures T1T^{-1} is continuous
    • TT becomes a between XX and T(X)=YT(X) = Y, implying surjectivity

Applications in functional analysis

  • Proves the Closed Graph Theorem
    • A linear operator T:XYT: X \to Y between Banach spaces with a closed graph in X×YX \times Y is continuous
  • Proves the Inverse Mapping Theorem
    • The inverse of a bijective T:XYT: X \to Y between Banach spaces is also a bounded linear operator
  • Proves the
    • For a bounded linear operator T:XYT: X \to Y between Banach spaces, range(T)\text{range}(T) is closed in YY if and only if range(T)\text{range}(T^*) is closed in XX^*
  • Proves the of function spaces like LpL^p spaces and

Key Terms to Review (22)

Baire Category Theorem: The Baire Category Theorem states that in a complete metric space (or a locally compact Hausdorff space), the intersection of countably many dense open sets is dense. This theorem plays a crucial role in functional analysis, as it underpins important results like the Open Mapping Theorem and the Uniform Boundedness Principle, demonstrating that certain properties hold in 'large' sets rather than just arbitrary collections.
Banach Space: A Banach space is a complete normed linear space where every Cauchy sequence converges within the space. This completeness property is vital in functional analysis as it ensures that limits of sequences remain within the space, allowing for robust analysis of functional properties and the behavior of operators.
Banach Spaces: A Banach space is a complete normed vector space where every Cauchy sequence converges to an element within the space. These spaces provide a structured way to study linear operators and functionals, making them crucial in functional analysis. The completeness and norm properties help in understanding convergence and continuity, especially in the context of various theorems and applications.
Banach-Steinhaus Theorem: The Banach-Steinhaus Theorem, also known as the Uniform Boundedness Principle, asserts that for a family of continuous linear operators from a Banach space to a normed space, if each operator in the family is pointwise bounded on the entire space, then the operators are uniformly bounded in operator norm. This theorem highlights the relationship between pointwise and uniform boundedness and has significant implications in functional analysis.
Bounded Linear Operator: A bounded linear operator is a linear transformation between two normed spaces that maps bounded sets to bounded sets, ensuring continuity. This means that there exists a constant $C$ such that for every vector $x$ in the domain, the norm of the operator applied to $x$ is less than or equal to $C$ times the norm of $x$. Bounded linear operators play a crucial role in functional analysis as they preserve structure and facilitate the study of continuity, adjointness, and compactness.
Bounded linear operator: A bounded linear operator is a linear transformation between normed spaces that is continuous and has a bounded operator norm, meaning there exists a constant such that the norm of the output is always less than or equal to that constant times the norm of the input. This concept is foundational in functional analysis as it relates to the structure and behavior of linear mappings in various mathematical contexts.
Closed Graph Theorem: The Closed Graph Theorem states that if a linear operator between Banach spaces has a closed graph, then the operator is continuous. This theorem connects the concepts of linearity, continuity, and the behavior of operators in functional analysis, showcasing its importance in various areas such as dual spaces and bounded operators.
Closed Range Theorem: The Closed Range Theorem states that for a continuous linear operator between Banach spaces, the range of the operator is closed if and only if the adjoint operator has a closed range. This concept is crucial in understanding the relationship between an operator and its adjoint, and it highlights the structural features of functional spaces and their mappings.
Completeness: Completeness in the context of functional analysis refers to a property of a space whereby every Cauchy sequence converges to a limit within that space. This concept is essential in differentiating between normed spaces and Banach spaces, emphasizing that a Banach space is a normed space that is complete, ensuring that limits of sequences are always contained within the space.
Continuous Linear Transformation: A continuous linear transformation is a mapping between two normed linear spaces that preserves the operations of addition and scalar multiplication, while also ensuring that small changes in the input result in small changes in the output. This concept is crucial for understanding how functions behave between different spaces, particularly in terms of stability and structure. Continuous linear transformations play an essential role in functional analysis by connecting the properties of normed spaces with important theorems, like the Open Mapping Theorem, which describes conditions under which such transformations maintain the openness of sets.
David Hilbert: David Hilbert was a German mathematician whose work laid foundational aspects of modern functional analysis, particularly through his contributions to the theory of infinite-dimensional spaces and linear operators. His ideas and results have become pivotal in understanding various areas of mathematics, influencing topics like the Hahn-Banach theorem and spectral theory.
Functional Equations: Functional equations are equations where the unknowns are functions rather than simple variables. These equations express relationships between functions and their values at different points, often leading to interesting properties of the functions involved. They play a crucial role in various areas of mathematics, including analysis, number theory, and, importantly, the context of continuous linear operators and mappings.
Hilbert Space: A Hilbert space is a complete inner product space that is a fundamental concept in functional analysis, combining the properties of normed spaces with the geometry of inner product spaces. It allows for the extension of many concepts from finite-dimensional spaces to infinite dimensions, facilitating the study of sequences and functions in a rigorous way.
Homeomorphism: A homeomorphism is a continuous function between two topological spaces that has a continuous inverse. It establishes a one-to-one correspondence between the spaces, preserving their topological properties. Homeomorphisms are essential in topology because they help classify spaces based on their inherent structure rather than their specific geometric representation.
Injective Bounded Linear Operator: An injective bounded linear operator is a linear transformation between two normed vector spaces that is both injective (one-to-one) and bounded (continuous). Being injective means that the operator maps distinct elements to distinct elements, ensuring that no two different inputs produce the same output. The boundedness condition guarantees that the operator does not 'blow up' inputs, meaning there exists a constant such that the output's norm is controlled by the input's norm.
Inverse Mapping Theorem: The Inverse Mapping Theorem states that if a continuous function between Banach spaces is a bijection and its derivative is continuous at every point in its domain, then the inverse function is also continuous. This theorem is significant as it assures that under certain conditions, the inverse of a function behaves nicely, allowing for the preservation of topological properties. It directly relates to the open mapping theorem by emphasizing the behavior of functions in functional analysis and their inverses.
Open Mapping Theorem: The Open Mapping Theorem states that if a continuous linear operator between Banach spaces is surjective, then it maps open sets to open sets. This theorem is crucial in functional analysis as it connects the concepts of continuity, linearity, and the structure of Banach spaces, highlighting the behavior of bounded linear operators and their significance in understanding dual spaces and functional continuity.
Sobolev Spaces: Sobolev spaces are a class of function spaces that combine the properties of both continuous functions and their weak derivatives. These spaces are essential in the study of partial differential equations, as they provide a framework for analyzing functions that may not be differentiable in the traditional sense but still exhibit certain smoothness properties. The concept of Sobolev spaces connects directly to various key results in functional analysis, including the Open Mapping Theorem, where these spaces allow us to extend results about linear operators between Banach spaces.
Stefan Banach: Stefan Banach was a prominent Polish mathematician who is best known for his foundational contributions to functional analysis, particularly through the establishment of Banach spaces and the Hahn-Banach theorem. His work laid the groundwork for modern analysis and introduced key concepts that are essential for understanding the structure of normed spaces and bounded linear operators.
Surjective bounded linear operator: A surjective bounded linear operator is a mapping between two normed spaces that is both linear and bounded, with the additional property that every element in the target space is the image of at least one element from the domain. This concept is crucial in understanding the relationships between spaces, especially when discussing the Open Mapping Theorem, which asserts that such operators preserve the open sets of the domain in their images.
Surjective mapping: A surjective mapping, also known as a surjection, is a function that covers every element in the codomain at least once. This means that for every element in the target set, there exists at least one element in the domain that maps to it. Surjective mappings are crucial in understanding the relationships between different spaces, particularly in the context of various theorems and properties in functional analysis.
Surjective Operator: A surjective operator, also known as a onto operator, is a type of linear operator that maps every element from its domain to at least one element in its codomain, ensuring that the entire codomain is covered. This concept is significant because it establishes a relationship between the domain and codomain, indicating that for every point in the codomain, there is a corresponding point in the domain. Understanding surjective operators is crucial when discussing properties of bounded linear operators and when applying the Open Mapping Theorem, which relates surjectivity to continuous inverses.
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