Spaces with separating dual #
We introduce a typeclass SeparatingDual R V, registering that the points of the topological
module V over R can be separated by continuous linear forms.
This property is satisfied for normed spaces over ℝ or ℂ (by the analytic Hahn-Banach theorem)
and for locally convex topological spaces over ℝ (by the geometric Hahn-Banach theorem).
We show in SeparatingDual.exists_ne_zero that given any non-zero vector in an R-module V
satisfying SeparatingDual R V, there exists a continuous linear functional whose value on v is
non-zero.
As a consequence of the existence of SeparatingDual.exists_ne_zero, a generalization of
Hahn-Banach beyond the normed setting, we show that if V and W are nontrivial topological vector
spaces over a topological field R that acts continuously on W, and if SeparatingDual R V,
there are nontrivial continuous R-linear operators between V and W. This is recorded in the
instance SeparatingDual.instNontrivialContinuousLinearMapIdOfContinuousSMul.
Under the assumption SeparatingDual R V, we show in
SeparatingDual.exists_continuousLinearEquiv_apply_eq that the group of continuous linear
equivalences acts transitively on the set of nonzero vectors.
When E is a topological module over a topological ring R, the class SeparatingDual R E
registers that continuous linear forms on E separate points of E.
- exists_ne_zero' (x : V) : x ≠ 0 → ∃ (f : StrongDual R V), f x ≠ 0
Any nonzero vector can be mapped by a continuous linear map to a nonzero scalar.
Instances
Given a finite-dimensional subspace W of a space V with separating dual, any
linear functional on W extends to a continuous linear functional on V.
This is stated more generally for an injective linear map from W to V.
The center of continuous linear maps on a topological vector space with separating dual is trivial, in other words, it is a central algebra.
In a topological vector space with separating dual, the group of continuous linear equivalences
acts transitively on the set of nonzero vectors: given two nonzero vectors x and y, there
exists A : V ≃L[R] V mapping x to y.
If a space of linear maps from E to F is complete, and E is nontrivial, then F is
complete.
If a space of multilinear maps from Π i, E i to F is complete, and each E i has a nonzero
element, then F is complete.