Physlib

Physlib.QuantumMechanics.DDimensions.Operators.Unbounded

Unbounded operators

i. Overview

In this module we define unbounded operators between Hilbert spaces.

ii. Key results

Definitions: - `UnboundedOperator`: Densely defined, closable unbounded operator between Hilbert spaces. - `partialOrder`: Poset structure for unbounded operators. - `ofSymmetric`: Construction of an unbounded operator from a symmetric `LinearPMap`. - `IsGeneralizedEigenvector`: The notion of eigenvectors/values for linear functionals.

(In)equalities: - `le_closure`: `U ≤ U.closure` - `adjoint_adjoint_eq_closure`: `U†† = U.closure` - `adjoint_ge_adjoint_of_le`: `U₁ ≤ U₂ → U₂† ≤ U₁†` - `closure_mono`: `U₁ ≤ U₂ → U₁.closure ≤ U₂.closure` - `isSymmetric_iff_le_adjoint`: `IsSymmetric T ↔ T ≤ T†`

iii. Table of contents

- A. Definition - B. Basic identities - C. Instances - C.1. Partial order - C.2. Zero - C.3. AddZeroClass - C.4. DistribSMul - D. Closure - E. Adjoint - F. Symmetric operators - G. Self-adjoint operators - H. Generalized eigenvectors

iv. References

- M. Reed & B. Simon, (1972). "Methods of modern mathematical physics: Vol. 1. Functional analysis". Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-585001-8.X5001-6 - K. Schmüdgen, (2012). "Unbounded self-adjoint operators on Hilbert space" (Vol. 265). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4753-1

A. Definition

B. Basic identities

C. Instances

C.1. Partial order

Unbounded operators inherit the structure of a poset from `LinearPMap`, but *not* that of a `SemilatticeInf` because `U₁.domain ⊓ U₂.domain` may not be dense.

C.2. Zero

C.3. AddZeroClass

In defining addition for unbounded operators we use two junk values. - If `U₁.domain ∩ U₂.domain` is not dense, then `U₁ + U₂ = 0` (domain `⊤`) - If `U₁.domain ∩ U₂.domain` is dense but `U₁.toLinearPMap + U₂.toLinearPMap` is not closable, then `U₁ + U₂ = 0` with domain `U₁.domain ∩ U₂.domain`. This ensures that distributivity, `c • (U₁ + U₂) = c • U₁ + c • U₂`, holds for `(c : ℂ) = 0`.

C.4. DistribSMul

Scalar multiplication by complex numbers is inherited from `LinearPMap`. Note that `(c : ℂ) • U` has the same domain as `U` for all constants; in particular, `(0 : ℂ) • U ≤ 0` with equality if and only if `U.domain = ⊤`.

D. Closure

E. Adjoint

F. Symmetric operators

G. Self-adjoint operators

H. Generalized eigenvectors

59 declarations

theorem

Extensionality of Unbounded Operators: U1=U2U_1 = U_2 if their underlying linear partial maps are equal

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces, and let U1U_1 and U2U_2 be unbounded operators between them. If the underlying linear partial maps of U1U_1 and U2U_2 are equal, then U1=U2U_1 = U_2.

instance

Coercion of an unbounded operator UU to a function U:D(U)HU: \mathcal{D}(U) \to H'

Let UU be an unbounded operator between Hilbert spaces HH and HH'. This instance allows UU to be treated as a function mapping an element xx of its domain D(U)\mathcal{D}(U) to its image U(x)U(x) in HH'.

theorem

Polarization Identity for Tx,y\langle Tx, y \rangle

Let HH be a complex Hilbert space and TT be an unbounded operator on HH. For any vectors xx and yy in the domain of TT (denoted D(T)\mathcal{D}(T)), the following polarization identity holds: Tx,y=14(T(x+y),x+yT(xy),xyiT(x+iy),x+iy+iT(xiy),xiy)\langle Tx, y \rangle = \frac{1}{4} \left( \langle T(x + y), x + y \rangle - \langle T(x - y), x - y \rangle - i \langle T(x + iy), x + iy \rangle + i \langle T(x - iy), x - iy \rangle \right) where ,\langle \cdot, \cdot \rangle denotes the inner product on HH and ii is the imaginary unit.

theorem

Polarization Identity for x,Ty\langle x, Ty \rangle

Let HH be a complex Hilbert space and TT be an unbounded operator on HH. For any vectors xx and yy in the domain of TT, the inner product of xx and TyTy can be expressed via the polarization identity: x,Ty=14(x+y,T(x+y)xy,T(xy)ix+iy,T(x+iy)+ixiy,T(xiy))\langle x, Ty \rangle = \frac{1}{4} \left( \langle x+y, T(x+y) \rangle - \langle x-y, T(x-y) \rangle - i \langle x+iy, T(x+iy) \rangle + i \langle x-iy, T(x-iy) \rangle \right) where ,\langle \cdot, \cdot \rangle denotes the complex inner product and ii is the imaginary unit.

instance

Partial order on unbounded operators U1U2U_1 \le U_2

The type of unbounded operators between Hilbert spaces HH and HH' is equipped with a partial order structure. For two unbounded operators U1U_1 and U2U_2, the relation U1U2U_1 \le U_2 holds if U2U_2 is an extension of U1U_1. Specifically, this means that the domain of U1U_1 is a subspace of the domain of U2U_2 (D(U1)D(U2)\mathcal{D}(U_1) \subseteq \mathcal{D}(U_2)) and the operators agree on the smaller domain (U1x=U2xU_1 x = U_2 x for all xD(U1)x \in \mathcal{D}(U_1)).

theorem

A zero partially defined linear map is closable

Let EE and FF be complex inner product spaces. If ff is a partially defined linear map from EE to FF (represented as a `LinearPMap`) such that f(x)=0f(x) = 0 for all xx in its domain, then ff is closable.

instance

Zero unbounded operator 00

The zero element 00 of the type of unbounded operators between Hilbert spaces HH and HH' represents the operator whose domain is the entire space HH and which maps every vector in HH to the zero vector in HH'.

theorem

The linear partial map of the zero unbounded operator is zero

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces. The linear partial map underlying the zero unbounded operator 00 between HH and HH' is equal to the zero linear partial map.

instance

The type of unbounded operators is inhabited

The type of unbounded operators between Hilbert spaces HH and HH' is inhabited, meaning it contains at least one element. This instance identifies the zero unbounded operator 00 as the default or canonical element of the type.

instance

Addition of unbounded operators U1+U2U_1 + U_2

The addition of two unbounded operators U1,U2U_1, U_2 between Hilbert spaces HH and HH' is defined based on the density of the intersection of their domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) and the closability of their sum. Let U1+pU2U_1 +_{p} U_2 denote the sum of the underlying linear partial maps. The sum U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is defined as follows: - If D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is dense in HH: - If U1+pU2U_1 +_{p} U_2 is a closable operator, then U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is the unbounded operator with domain D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) mapping xx to U1x+U2xU_1 x + U_2 x. - If U1+pU2U_1 +_{p} U_2 is not closable, U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is the zero operator restricted to the domain D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2). - If D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is not dense in HH, U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is the zero operator 00 with domain HH.

theorem

D(U1+U2)=D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1 + U_2) = D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) for dense intersection

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces, and let U1,U2U_1, U_2 be unbounded operators from HH to HH' with domains D(U1)D(U_1) and D(U2)D(U_2), respectively. If the intersection of their domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is dense in HH, then the domain of the sum U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is precisely that intersection, i.e., D(U1+U2)=D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1 + U_2) = D(U_1) \cap D(U_2).

theorem

D(U1+U2)=HD(U_1 + U_2) = H for non-dense domain intersections

Let U1U_1 and U2U_2 be unbounded operators between Hilbert spaces HH and HH' with domains D(U1)D(U_1) and D(U2)D(U_2), respectively. If the intersection of their domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is not dense in HH, then the domain of their sum D(U1+U2)D(U_1 + U_2) is equal to the entire space HH.

theorem

ψD(U1+U2)    ψD(U1)D(U2)\psi \in D(U_1 + U_2) \implies \psi \in D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) for dense intersections

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces, and let U1U_1 and U2U_2 be unbounded operators from HH to HH' with domains D(U1)D(U_1) and D(U2)D(U_2), respectively. If the intersection of their domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is dense in HH, then any vector ψ\psi in the domain of the sum D(U1+U2)D(U_1 + U_2) must belong to both D(U1)D(U_1) and D(U2)D(U_2).

theorem

The linear partial map of U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is the sum of their linear partial maps if the intersection of domains is dense and the sum is closable

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces, and let U1U_1 and U2U_2 be unbounded operators from HH to HH'. If the intersection of their domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is dense in HH, and if the sum of their underlying linear partial maps U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is closable, then the linear partial map associated with the sum of the unbounded operators U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is equal to the sum of the linear partial maps of U1U_1 and U2U_2.

theorem

The underlying linear map of U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is zero if D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is dense and the sum is not closable

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and U1,U2U_1, U_2 be unbounded operators between them. If the intersection of their domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is dense in HH and the sum of their underlying linear partial maps is not closable, then the linear partial map of the operator sum U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is defined to be the zero map on the domain D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2).

theorem

U1+U2=0U_1 + U_2 = 0 when D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is not dense

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces, and let U1U_1 and U2U_2 be unbounded operators between them. If the intersection of their domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is not dense in HH, then the sum U1+U2U_1 + U_2 is defined as the zero operator 00 (which has the entire space HH as its domain).

theorem

(U1+U2)ψ=U1ψ+U2ψ(U_1 + U_2)\psi = U_1\psi + U_2\psi for densely defined and closable sums

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and let U1,U2U_1, U_2 be unbounded operators from HH to HH' with domains D(U1)D(U_1) and D(U2)D(U_2) respectively. Suppose that the intersection of their domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is dense in HH and that the sum of their underlying linear partial maps is closable. Then, for any vector ψ\psi in the domain of the operator sum D(U1+U2)D(U_1 + U_2), the application of the sum to ψ\psi satisfies (U1+U2)ψ=U1ψ+U2ψ(U_1 + U_2)\psi = U_1\psi + U_2\psi.

instance

0+U=U0 + U = U and U+0=UU + 0 = U for unbounded operators

The type of unbounded operators between Hilbert spaces HH and HH' forms an additive structure with a zero element (an `AddZeroClass`). This means that the zero operator 00 (defined on the whole space HH) acts as the identity for the addition of unbounded operators, such that for any unbounded operator UU, we have 0+U=U0 + U = U and U+0=UU + 0 = U.

theorem

Associativity of Addition for Unbounded Operators (U1+U2)+U3=U1+(U2+U3)(U_1 + U_2) + U_3 = U_1 + (U_2 + U_3)

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces, and let U1,U2,U_1, U_2, and U3U_3 be unbounded operators from HH to HH'. Suppose the following conditions are satisfied: 1. The intersection of the domains D(U1)D(U2)D(U_1) \cap D(U_2) is dense in HH, and the sum of the underlying linear partial maps of U1U_1 and U2U_2 is closable. 2. The intersection of the domains D(U2)D(U3)D(U_2) \cap D(U_3) is dense in HH, and the sum of the underlying linear partial maps of U2U_2 and U3U_3 is closable. Under these conditions, the addition of unbounded operators is associative, meaning (U1+U2)+U3=U1+(U2+U3)(U_1 + U_2) + U_3 = U_1 + (U_2 + U_3).

theorem

(x,y)graph(cf)    (x,c1y)graph(f)(x, y) \in \overline{\text{graph}(c f)} \implies (x, c^{-1} y) \in \overline{\text{graph}(f)} for c0c \neq 0

Let EE and FF be complex inner product spaces and let ff be a partially defined linear map from EE to FF. For any non-zero complex scalar cCc \in \mathbb{C} and any pair (x,y)E×F(x, y) \in E \times F, if (x,y)(x, y) is an element of the topological closure of the graph of the scaled map cfc \cdot f, then (x,c1y)(x, c^{-1} y) is an element of the topological closure of the graph of ff.

theorem

ff is closable     cf\implies c f is closable

Let EE and FF be complex inner product spaces and let ff be a partially defined linear map from EE to FF. If ff is closable, then for any complex scalar cCc \in \mathbb{C}, the scaled map cfc f is also closable.

instance

Scalar multiplication cUc \cdot U for cCc \in \mathbb{C} and unbounded operators

Let HH and HH' be complex Hilbert spaces. For any complex scalar cCc \in \mathbb{C} and any unbounded operator UU (which is defined as a densely defined and closable linear map from HH to HH'), the scalar multiplication cUc \cdot U is an unbounded operator. This operator is defined by scaling the underlying partially defined linear map of UU by cc, while preserving the property of having a dense domain and being closable.

theorem

dom(cU)=dom(U)\text{dom}(c \cdot U) = \text{dom}(U)

For any complex scalar cCc \in \mathbb{C} and any unbounded operator UU between Hilbert spaces, the domain of the scalar-multiplied operator cUc \cdot U is equal to the domain of UU: dom(cU)=dom(U)\text{dom}(c \cdot U) = \text{dom}(U).

theorem

(cU).toLinearPMap=cU.toLinearPMap(c \cdot U).\text{toLinearPMap} = c \cdot U.\text{toLinearPMap}

For any complex scalar cCc \in \mathbb{C} and any unbounded operator UU between complex Hilbert spaces, the underlying linear partial map of the scaled operator cUc \cdot U is equal to the scalar cc multiplied by the underlying linear partial map of UU, expressed as (cU).toLinearPMap=cU.toLinearPMap(c \cdot U).\text{toLinearPMap} = c \cdot U.\text{toLinearPMap}.

theorem

(0:C)U0(0 : \mathbb{C}) \cdot U \le 0 for unbounded operators

Let UU be an unbounded operator between Hilbert spaces HH and HH'. Then the scalar multiplication of UU by the complex number 00 is less than or equal to the zero operator 00 in the partial order of unbounded operators, written as (0:C)U0(0 : \mathbb{C}) \cdot U \le 0. This inequality states that the zero operator (which is defined on the entire space HH) is an extension of the operator (0:C)U(0 : \mathbb{C}) \cdot U (which is defined on the domain of UU).

instance

Distributivity of complex scalar multiplication over addition for unbounded operators: c(U1+U2)=cU1+cU2c \cdot (U_1 + U_2) = c \cdot U_1 + c \cdot U_2

Let HH and HH' be complex Hilbert spaces. The type of unbounded operators between HH and HH' admits a distributive scalar multiplication by complex numbers cCc \in \mathbb{C}. Specifically, for any cCc \in \mathbb{C} and any unbounded operators U1,U2U_1, U_2, the distributive law c(U1+U2)=cU1+cU2c \cdot (U_1 + U_2) = c \cdot U_1 + c \cdot U_2 holds, and the action preserves the zero operator such that c0=0c \cdot 0 = 0.

definition

Closure of an unbounded operator UU (U\overline{U})

For an unbounded operator UU between Hilbert spaces HH and HH', its closure U\overline{U} is the operator whose graph is the closure of the graph of UU in H×HH \times H'. The resulting operator U\overline{U} is itself a densely defined and closed (and thus closable) unbounded operator.

theorem

The linear partial map of U\overline{U} equals the closure of the linear partial map of UU

For an unbounded operator UU between Hilbert spaces, let U\overline{U} denote its closure. The underlying linear partial map of the closure U\overline{U} is equal to the closure of the linear partial map of UU.

theorem

UUU \le \overline{U}

Let UU be an unbounded operator between Hilbert spaces. Then UUU \le \overline{U}, where U\overline{U} denotes the closure of UU. This relation indicates that the closure U\overline{U} is an extension of UU, meaning that the domain of UU is contained in the domain of U\overline{U} (D(U)D(U)\mathcal{D}(U) \subseteq \mathcal{D}(\overline{U})) and the operators agree on D(U)\mathcal{D}(U).

definition

UU is closed

An unbounded operator UU is **closed** if the graph of its underlying linear partial map TT, defined as {(x,Tx)xdom(T)}\{ (x, Tx) \mid x \in \text{dom}(T) \}, is a closed subspace of the product of the Hilbert spaces.

theorem

The closure U\overline{U} is closed

Let UU be an unbounded operator between Hilbert spaces. Its closure U\overline{U} is a closed operator.

theorem

UU is closed     U=U\iff U = \overline{U}

Let UU be an unbounded operator between Hilbert spaces. UU is closed if and only if it equals its closure, denoted as U=UU = \overline{U}.

theorem

The adjoint of a densely defined, closable operator is densely defined

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and ff be a linear partially defined map from HH to HH'. If the domain of ff is dense in HH and ff is closable, then the domain of its adjoint operator ff^\dagger is dense in HH'.

definition

Adjoint operator UU^\dagger

Given an unbounded operator UU from a Hilbert space HH to a Hilbert space HH', the adjoint operator UU^\dagger is an unbounded operator from HH' to HH. It is constructed from the adjoint of the underlying linear partial map of UU. This definition ensures that UU^\dagger is an `UnboundedOperator` by proving that its domain is dense (which follows from UU being closable and densely defined) and that it is a closed (and therefore closable) operator.

definition

Notation for the adjoint TT^\dagger

This definition introduces the postfix notation \dagger to represent the adjoint of an unbounded operator. For an unbounded operator TT, TT^\dagger denotes its adjoint operator between Hilbert spaces.

theorem

The underlying linear partial map of UU^\dagger is (U.toLinearPMap)(U.\text{toLinearPMap})^\dagger

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and let UU be an unbounded operator from HH to HH'. The underlying linear partial map of the adjoint operator UU^\dagger is equal to the adjoint of the underlying linear partial map of UU, denoted as (U.toLinearPMap)(U.\text{toLinearPMap})^\dagger.

theorem

UU^\dagger is closed

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and let UU be an unbounded operator from HH to HH'. The adjoint operator UU^\dagger from HH' to HH is a closed operator.

theorem

U=U\overline{U^\dagger} = U^\dagger

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and let UU be an unbounded operator from HH to HH'. The closure of the adjoint operator UU^\dagger is equal to the adjoint operator itself, that is, U=U\overline{U^\dagger} = U^\dagger.

theorem

(U)=U(\overline{U})^\dagger = U^\dagger

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and let UU be an unbounded operator from HH to HH'. Let U\overline{U} denote the closure of UU and UU^\dagger denote the adjoint operator of UU. Then the adjoint of the closure of UU is equal to the adjoint of UU, that is, (U)=U(\overline{U})^\dagger = U^\dagger.

theorem

U=UU^{\dagger\dagger} = \overline{U}

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and UU be an unbounded operator from HH to HH'. The double adjoint of UU, denoted by UU^{\dagger\dagger}, is equal to the closure of UU, denoted by U\overline{U}.

theorem

UUU \le U^{\dagger\dagger}

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and let UU be a densely defined, closable unbounded operator from HH to HH'. Then UUU \le U^{\dagger\dagger}, where UU^{\dagger\dagger} denotes the double adjoint of UU. This relation indicates that UU^{\dagger\dagger} is an extension of UU, meaning that the domain of UU is a subspace of the domain of UU^{\dagger\dagger} (D(U)D(U)\mathcal{D}(U) \subseteq \mathcal{D}(U^{\dagger\dagger})) and both operators agree on D(U)\mathcal{D}(U).

theorem

UU is closed     U=U\iff U = U^{\dagger\dagger}

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces and UU be an unbounded operator from HH to HH'. UU is closed if and only if it is equal to its double adjoint, U=UU = U^{\dagger\dagger}.

theorem

U1U2    U2U1U_1 \le U_2 \implies U_2^\dagger \le U_1^\dagger

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces. For any two unbounded operators U1,U2U_1, U_2 from HH to HH', if U1U2U_1 \le U_2 (meaning U2U_2 is an extension of U1U_1), then their adjoints satisfy U2U1U_2^\dagger \le U_1^\dagger (meaning U1U_1^\dagger is an extension of U2U_2^\dagger). Here, UU^\dagger denotes the adjoint operator of UU.

theorem

U1U2    U1U2U_1 \le U_2 \implies \overline{U_1} \le \overline{U_2}

Let HH and HH' be Hilbert spaces. For any two unbounded operators U1U_1 and U2U_2 from HH to HH', if U1U2U_1 \le U_2 (meaning U2U_2 is an extension of U1U_1), then their closures satisfy U1U2\overline{U_1} \le \overline{U_2} (meaning the closure of U2U_2 is an extension of the closure of U1U_1). Here, U\overline{U} denotes the closure of the operator UU.

definition

Unbounded operator from a symmetric map ff on a dense domain EE

Given a dense submodule EE of a Hilbert space HH and a symmetric linear map f:EEf: E \to E (satisfying f(x),y=x,f(y)\langle f(x), y \rangle = \langle x, f(y) \rangle for all x,yEx, y \in E), this definition constructs an unbounded operator on HH. The resulting operator has domain EE and maps ψE\psi \in E to f(ψ)Hf(\psi) \in H. It is guaranteed to be closable because it is symmetric and densely defined.

theorem

The unbounded operator TT from `ofSymmetric` maps ψ\psi to f(ψ)f(\psi)

Let HH be a Hilbert space and EE be a dense subspace of HH. Suppose f:EEf: E \to E is a symmetric linear map (i.e., f(x),y=x,f(y)\langle f(x), y \rangle = \langle x, f(y) \rangle for all x,yEx, y \in E). If TT is the unbounded operator on HH constructed from ff (via `ofSymmetric`), then for any vector ψE\psi \in E, the application of the operator TT to ψ\psi is given by Tψ=f(ψ)T\psi = f(\psi).

definition

TT is symmetric

An unbounded operator TT on a Hilbert space HH is symmetric if for all x,yx, y in the domain of TT, the inner product satisfies the condition Tx,y=x,Ty\langle Tx, y \rangle = \langle x, Ty \rangle.

theorem

TT is symmetric     xD(T),Tx,xR\iff \forall x \in \mathcal{D}(T), \langle Tx, x \rangle \in \mathbb{R}

Let HH be a complex Hilbert space and TT be an unbounded operator on HH. The operator TT is symmetric if and only if for every xx in the domain of TT, denoted as D(T)\mathcal{D}(T), the inner product Tx,x\langle Tx, x \rangle is a real number, i.e., Tx,x=Tx,x\overline{\langle Tx, x \rangle} = \langle Tx, x \rangle.

theorem

TT is symmetric     TT\iff T \le T^\dagger

Let HH be a Hilbert space and TT be an unbounded operator on HH. The operator TT is symmetric if and only if TTT \le T^\dagger, where TT^\dagger denotes the adjoint of TT and the relation \le signifies that TT^\dagger is an extension of TT (i.e., the domain of TT is a subspace of the domain of TT^\dagger, and they agree on the domain of TT).

instance

Star operation for unbounded operators HHH \to H

The star operation on the set of unbounded operators mapping a Hilbert space HH to itself is defined by the adjoint operator, mapping TT to TT^\dagger.

theorem

TT is self-adjoint     T=T\iff T^\dagger = T

Let TT be an unbounded operator on a Hilbert space HH. TT is self-adjoint if and only if its adjoint TT^\dagger is equal to TT.

theorem

TT is self-adjoint     \iff its underlying linear partial map is self-adjoint

Let HH be a Hilbert space and TT be an unbounded operator on HH. Then TT is self-adjoint if and only if its underlying linear partial map, T.toLinearPMapT.\text{toLinearPMap}, is self-adjoint.

theorem

Self-adjoint operators are closed

Let HH be a Hilbert space and let TT be an unbounded operator on HH. If TT is self-adjoint, then TT is closed.

theorem

Self-adjoint operators are symmetric

Let HH be a Hilbert space and TT be an unbounded operator on HH. If TT is self-adjoint, then TT is symmetric.

definition

Essential self-adjointness of an unbounded operator TT

An unbounded operator TT on a Hilbert space HH is essentially self-adjoint if its closure T\overline{T} is a self-adjoint operator, satisfying T=T\overline{T} = \overline{T}^\dagger.

theorem

TT is essentially self-adjoint     T=T\iff T^\dagger = \overline{T}

Let TT be an unbounded operator on a Hilbert space HH. TT is essentially self-adjoint if and only if its adjoint operator TT^\dagger is equal to its closure T\overline{T}.

theorem

Self-adjointness implies essential self-adjointness

Let HH be a Hilbert space and TT be an unbounded operator on HH. If TT is self-adjoint, then TT is essentially self-adjoint (meaning its closure T\overline{T} is self-adjoint).

definition

FF is a generalized eigenvector of TT with eigenvalue cc

Let TT be an unbounded operator with domain D(T)D(T). A continuous linear functional F:D(T)CF : D(T) \to \mathbb{C} is a **generalized eigenvector** of TT with eigenvalue cCc \in \mathbb{C} if for all vectors ψD(T)\psi \in D(T), the relation F(Tψ)=cF(ψ)F(T \psi) = c F(\psi) holds.

theorem

FF is a generalized eigenvector of a symmetric operator TfT_f iff ψE,F(f(ψ))=cF(ψ)\forall \psi \in E, F(f(\psi)) = c F(\psi)

Let HH be a Hilbert space and EE be a dense submodule of HH. Let f:EEf: E \to E be a symmetric linear map, and let TT be the unbounded operator on HH constructed from ff with domain D(T)=ED(T) = E (such that Tψ=f(ψ)T\psi = f(\psi) for all ψE\psi \in E). For a continuous linear functional F:ECF : E \to \mathbb{C} and a scalar cCc \in \mathbb{C}, FF is a generalized eigenvector of TT with eigenvalue cc if and only if the relation F(f(ψ))=cF(ψ)F(f(\psi)) = c F(\psi) holds for all ψE\psi \in E.