Embedding Levy families into Banach spaces

We prove that if a metric probability space with a usual concentration property embeds into a finite dimensional Banach space X, then X has a Euclidean subspace of a proportional dimension. In particular this yields a new characterization of weak cotype 2. We also find optimal lower estimates on embeddings of metric spaces with concentration properties into , generalizing estimates of Bourgain—Lindenstrauss—Milman, Carl—Pajor and Gluskin. Submitted: February 2001, Revised: August 2001.     

Hilbert-generated spaces

We classify several classes of the subspaces of Banach spaces X for which there is a bounded linear operator from a Hilbert space onto a dense subset in X. Dually, we provide optimal affine homeomorphisms from weak star dual unit balls onto weakly compact sets in Hilbert spaces or in c₀(Γ) spaces in their weak topology. The existence of such embeddings is characterized by the existence of certain uniformly Gâteaux smooth norms.     

Amenability,locally finite spaces,and bi-lipschitz embeddings

We define the isoperimetric constant for any locally finite metric space and we study the property of having isoperimetric constant equal to zero. This property, called Small Neighborhood property, clearly extends amenability to any locally finite space. Therefore, we start making a comparison between this property and other notions of amenability for locally finite metric spaces that have been proposed by Gromov, Lafontaine and Pansu, by Ceccherini-Silberstein, Grigorchuk and de la Harpe and by Block and Weinberger. We discuss possible applications of the property SN in the study of embedding a metric space into another one. In particular, we propose three results: we prove that a certain class of metric graphs that are isometrically embeddable into Hilbert spaces must have the property SN. We also show, by a simple example, that this result is not true replacing property SN with amenability. As a second result, we prove that many spaces with uniform bounded geometry having a bi-lipschitz embedding into Euclidean spaces must have the property SN. Finally, we prove a Bourgain-like theorem for metric trees: a metric tree with uniform bounded geometry and without property SN does not have bi-lipschitz embeddings into finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces.     

Bilipschitz Embeddings of Metric Spaces into Space Forms

The paper describes some basic geometric tools to construct bilipschitz embeddings of metric spaces into (finite-dimensional) Euclidean or hyperbolic spaces. One of the main results implies the following: If X is a geodesic metric space with convex distance function and the property that geodesic segments can be extended to rays, then X admits a bilipschitz embedding into some Euclidean space iff X has the doubling property, and X admits a bilipschitz embedding into some hyperbolic space iff X is Gromov hyperbolic and doubling up to some scale. In either case the image of the embedding is shown to be a Lipschitz retract in the target space, provided X is complete.     

Computability of finite-dimensional linear subspaces and best approximation

We discuss computability properties of the set P_G(x) of elements of best approximation of some point x∈X by elements of G⊆X in computable Banach spaces X. It turns out that for a general closed set G, given by its distance function, we can only obtain negative information about P_G(x) as a closed set. In the case that G is finite-dimensional, one can compute negative information on P_G(x) as a compact set. This implies that one can compute the point in P_G(x) whenever it is uniquely determined. This is also possible for a wider class of subsets G, given that one imposes additionally convexity properties on the space. If the Banach space X is computably uniformly convex and G is convex, then one can compute the uniquely determined point in P_G(x). We also discuss representations of finite-dimensional subspaces of Banach spaces and we show that a basis representation contains the same information as the representation via distance functions enriched by the dimension. Finally, we study computability properties of the dimension and the codimension map and we show that for finite-dimensional spaces X the dimension is computable, given the distance function of the subspace.     

Frame expansions in separable Banach spaces

Banach frames are defined by straightforward generalization of (Hilbert space) frames. We characterize Banach frames (and Xd-frames) in separable Banach spaces, and relate them to series expansions in Banach spaces. In particular, our results show that we can not expect Banach frames to share all the nice properties of frames in Hilbert spaces.     

Inspheres and inner products

Among normed linear spacesX of dimension ≧3, finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces are characterized by the condition that for each convex bodyC inX and each ballB of maximum radius contained inC,B’s center is a convex combination of points ofB ∩ (boundary ofC). Among reflexive Banach spaces of dimension ≧3, general Hilbert spaces are characterized by a related but weaker condition on inscribed balls. Research of the first author was partially supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. Research of the second and third authors was supported by the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche and the Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione of Italy, while they were visiting the University of Washington, Seattle, USA.     

THE FUNCTIONAL DIMENSION OF SOME CLASSES OF SPACES

The functional dimension of countable Hilbert spaces has been discussed by some authors. They showed that every countable Hilbert space with finite functional dimension is nuclear. In this paper the authors do further research on the functional dimension, and obtain the following results: (1) They construct a countable Hilbert space, which is nuclear, but its functional dimension is infinite. (2) The functional dimension of a Banach space is finite if and only if this space is finite dimensional. (3) Let B be a Banach space, B* be its dual, and denote the weak * topology of B* by σ(B*,B). Then the functional dimension of (B*,σ(B*,B)) is 1. By the third result, a class of topological linear spaces with finite functional dimension is presented.     

Local paraconvexity and local selection theorems

Theorems on the local extendability of selections for non-convex-valued maps of paracompact spaces into Banach spaces, i.e., infinite-dimensional analogs of the finite-dimensional Michael selection theorem are proved. We were able to obtain these results under an appropriate metric control of the local degree of nonconvexity on the valuesF(x), which naturally leads us to introduce the notion of equi-locally paraconvex families of sets. It is shown that all convex subsets of the integral curves of the differential equationy′=f(x,y) with a continuous right-hand sidef and the isometric images of such subsets form an equi-locally paraconvex family of subsets of a Euclidean space. Translated fromMatematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 65, No. 2, pp. 261–269, February, 1999.     

Uniqueness of complex structure and real hereditarily indecomposable Banach spaces

There exists a real hereditarily indecomposable Banach space X=X(C) (respectively X=X(H)) such that the algebra L(X)/S(X) is isomorphic to C (respectively to the quaternionic division algebra H).Up to isomorphism, X(C) has exactly two complex structures, which are conjugate, totally incomparable, and both hereditarily indecomposable. So there exist two Banach spaces which are isometric as real spaces but totally incomparable as complex spaces. This extends results of J. Bourgain and S. Szarek [J. Bourgain, Real isomorphic complex Banach spaces need not be complex isomorphic, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 96 (2) (1986) 221-226; S. Szarek, On the existence and uniqueness of complex structure and spaces with “few” operators, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 293 (1) (1986) 339-353; S. Szarek, A superreflexive Banach space which does not admit complex structure, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 97 (3) (1986) 437-444], and proves that a theorem of G. Godefroy and N.J. Kalton [G. Godefroy, N.J. Kalton, Lipschitz-free Banach spaces, Studia Math. 159 (1) (2003) 121-141] about isometric embeddings of separable real Banach spaces does not extend to the complex case.The quaternionic example X(H), on the other hand, has unique complex structure up to isomorphism; other examples with a unique complex structure are produced, including a space with an unconditional basis and non-isomorphic to l₂. This answers a question of S. Szarek in [S. Szarek, A superreflexive Banach space which does not admit complex structure, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 97 (3) (1986) 437-444].     

Lorentz Spaces and Embeddings Induced by Almost Greedy Bases in Banach Spaces

The aim of this paper is to undertake a systematic qualitative study of the built-in symmetry of almost greedy bases in Banach spaces. More specifically, by refining the techniques that Wojtaszczyk used in J Approx Theory 107(2), 293–314 2000 for quasi-greedy bases in Hilbert spaces, we show that an almost greedy basis in a Banach space X naturally induces embeddings that allow sandwiching X between two symmetric sequence spaces. Using classical interpolation techniques in combination with duality, we also explore what we label as interpolation of greedy bases. It is then proved that the only almost greedy basis shared by any two \(\ell _{p}\) spaces is equivalent to the standard unit vector basis and that there is no basis which is simultaneously (normalized and) greedy in two different \(L_{p}\) spaces. As a by-product of our work, we obtain a new characterization of greedy bases in Banach spaces in terms of bounded linear operators.     

Hereditary invertible linear surjections and splitting problems for selections

Let A+B be the pointwise (Minkowski) sum of two convex subsets A and B of a Banach space. Is it true that every continuous mapping h:X→A+B splits into a sum h=f+g of continuous mappings f:X→A and g:X→B? We study this question within a wider framework of splitting techniques of continuous selections. Existence of splittings is guaranteed by hereditary invertibility of linear surjections between Banach spaces. Some affirmative and negative results on such invertibility with respect to an appropriate class of convex compacta are presented. As a corollary, a positive answer to the above question is obtained for strictly convex finite-dimensional precompact spaces.     

Finite-dimensional global attractors in Banach spaces

We provide bounds on the upper box-counting dimension of negatively invariant subsets of Banach spaces, a problem that is easily reduced to covering the image of the unit ball under a linear map by a collection of balls of smaller radius. As an application of the abstract theory we show that the global attractors of a very broad class of parabolic partial differential equations (semilinear equations in Banach spaces) are finite-dimensional.     

On the convexity of the weakly compact Chebyshev sets in Banach spaces

A sufficient condition for a Banach spaceX is given so that every weakly compact Chebyshev subset ofX is convex. For this purpose a class broader than that of smooth Banach spaces is defined. In this way a former result of A. Brøndsted and A. L. Brown is partially extended in every finite dimensional normed linear space and a known result in Hilbert spaces is proved in a different way.     

Linear polarization constants of Hilbert spaces

This paper has been motivated by previous work on estimating lower bounds for the norms of homogeneous polynomials which are products of linear forms. The purpose of this work is to investigate the so-called nth (linear) polarization constant cn(X) of a finite-dimensional Banach space X, and in particular of a Hilbert space. Note that cn(X) is an isometric invariant of the space. It has been proved by J. Arias-de-Reyna [Linear Algebra Appl. 285 (1998) 395-408] that if H is a complex Hilbert space of dimension at least n, then cn(H)=nn/2. The same value of cn(H) for real Hilbert spaces is only conjectured, but estimates were obtained in many cases. In particular, it is known that the nth (linear) polarization constant of a d-dimensional real or complex Hilbert space H is of the approximate order dn/2, for n large enough, and also an integral form of the asymptotic quantity c(H), that is the (linear) polarization constant of the Hilbert space H, where dimH=d, was obtained together with an explicit form for real spaces. Here we present another proof, we find the explicit form even for complex spaces, and we elaborate further on the values of cn(H) and c(H). In particular, we answer a question raised by J.C. García-Vázquez and R. Villa [Mathematika 46 (1999) 315-322]. Also, we prove the conjectured cn(H)=nn/2 for real Hilbert spaces of dimension n?5. A few further estimates have been also derived.     

Approximate decidability in euclidean spaces

We study concepts of decidability (recursivity) for subsets of Euclidean spaces ?^k within the framework of approximate computability (type two theory of effectivity). A new notion of approximate decidability is proposed and discussed in some detail. It is an effective variant of F. Hausdorff's concept of resolvable sets, and it modifies and generalizes notions of recursivity known from computable analysis, formerly used for open or closed sets only, to more general types of sets. Approximate decidability of sets can equivalently be expressed by computability of the characteristic functions by means of appropriately working oracle Turing machines. The notion fulfills some natural requirements and is hereditary under canonical embeddings of sets into spaces of higher dimensions. However, it is not closed under binary union or intersection of sets. We also show how the framework of resolvability and approximate decidability can be applied to investigate concepts of reducibility for subsets of Euclidean spaces.     

Metrical characterization of super-reflexivity and linear type of Banach spaces

We prove that a Banach space X is not super-reflexive if and only if the hyperbolic infinite tree embeds metrically into X. We improve one implication of J.Bourgain’s result who gave a metrical characterization of super-reflexivity in Banach spaces in terms of uniform embeddings of the finite trees. A characterization of the linear type for Banach spaces is given using the embedding of the infinite tree equipped with the metrics d _p induced by the ℓ _p norms. Received: 2 August 2006, Revised: 10 April 2007     

Block-iterative algorithms for solving convex feasibility problems in Hilbert and in Banach spaces

We establish convergence theorems for two different block-iterative methods for solving the problem of finding a point in the intersection of the fixed point sets of a finite number of nonexpansive mappings in Hilbert and in finite-dimensional Banach spaces, respectively.     

Orthogonally Complemented Subspaces in Banach Spaces

In this paper, we extend the Moreau (Riesz) decomposition theorem from Hilbert spaces to Banach spaces. Criteria for a closed subspace to be (strongly) orthogonally complemented in a Banach space are given. We prove that every closed subspace of a Banach space X with dim X ≥ 3 (dim X ≤ 2) is strongly orthognally complemented if and only if the Banach space X is isometric to a Hilbert space (resp. strictly convex), which is complementary to the well-known result saying that every closed subspace of a Banach space X is topologically complemented if and only if the Banach space X is isomorphic to a Hilbert space.     

Weakly stable Banach spaces

The class of stable Banach spaces, inspired by the stability theory in mathematical logic, was introduced by Krivine and Maurey and provided the proper context for the abstract formulation of Aldous’ result of subspaces ofL ¹. In this paper we study the wider class of weakly stable Banach spaces, where the exchangeability of the iterated limits occurs only for sequences belonging to weakly compact subsets, introduced independently by Garling (in an earlier unpublished version of his expository paper on stable Banach spaces brought recently to our attention) and by the authors. Taking into account Rosenthal’s application of the study of pointwise compact sets of Baire-1 functions (Rosenthal compact spaces) in the study of Banach spaces (for whichl ¹ does not embed isomorphically) and of the study of Rosenthal compact sets by Rosenthal and Bourgain-Fremlin-Talagrand, we prove the following analogue of the Krivine-Maurey theorem for weakly stable spaces:If X is infinite dimensional and weakly stable then either l ^p for some p≧1or c_o embeds isomorphically in X (§1). Garling (in the above reference) proved this result under the additional assumption thatX* is separable. We also construct an example of a Banach spaceX which is weakly stable, without an equivalent stable norm, and such thatl ² embeds isomorphically in every infinite dimensional subspace ofX (§3).