Lecture 13

Linear Operators

Let X, Y be Banach spaces. For a while we will study bounded linear operators from
X to Y. These will just be called operators.

Topologies on Operators

1. The norm topology. We denote the space of operators from X to Y by ß(X, Y).
This is a Banach space with the norm IIAII := sup IIAxll. The topology given by
IIxll=l
this norm is called the usual topology, the norm topology or the uniform operator
topology on ß(X, Y).

2. The strong operator topology. We say that a net Ac> in ß(X, Y) converges
strongly to A if for each x in X, Aax converges to Ax; i.e., if IIA a x - Axll converges
to zero for each x. We write A a --+
s
A to indicate this convergence. The associated
topology is called the strong operator topology. It is the weak topology generated by
the family of maps

Fx : ß(X, Y) ----+ Y,

A f-+ Ax,

where x varies over X.

3. The weak operator topology. We say a net A a converges to A in the weak

operator topology if f(Aax) ---t f(Ax) for all f E Y*, x E X. We write this as
R. Bhatia, Notes on Functional Analysis
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104 Notes on Functional Analysis

Aa~A.
w
This is the weak topology generated by the family

Fx,f : ß(X, Y) -----> C,

A f----+ f(Ax),

where x varies over X and f over Y*. If X, Y are Hilbert spaces, then A a ~
w
A if
and only if (Aax, y) ------t (Ax, y) for all x E X, Y E Y.

4. Caution. In Lecture 9, we defined the strong and the weak topologies for any
Banach space. The adjectives strong and weak are now used in a different sense. (The
"strong" topology of the Banach spaces ß(X, Y) is its "usual" topology). For spaces
of operators the words strong and weak will be used in the new sense introduced
here; unless it is stated otherwise.

5. Examples. Clearly convergence in the norm topology implies convergence in the

strong operator topology, which in turn implies convergence in the weak operator
topology.
In the following examples, X and Y are the space €2.
(i) Let An = ~I; i.e., Anx = ~x for all x. Then An converges to zero in the

norm topology.

(ii) Let el, e2, ... be the standard orthonormal basis for €2. Let Pn be the orthog-
onal projection onto the linear span of {ei, ... , en }. Then I - Pn is the orthogonal
projection onto the orthogonal complement of this space. Here Pn ------t I in the strong
operator topology. But 111 - Pnll = 1 for all n. So Pn does not converge to I in the
norm topology.

(iii) The right shiJt operator S on €2 is defined as follows. Let x = (Xl, X2,"') be
any element of €2. Then