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Hille–Yosida theorem

Hille–Yosida theorem is a mathematics topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Hille–Yosida theorem rather than just read about it. In short: In functional analysis in mathematics, the Hille–Yosida theorem characterizes the generators of strongly continuous one-parameter semigroups of linear operators on Banach spaces. It is sometimes stated for the special case of contraction semigroups, with the general case being called the Feller–Miyadera–Phillips theorem (after William Feller, Isao Miyadera, and Ralph Phillips).

Key takeaways

  • Hille–Yosida theorem belongs to mathematics; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Hille–Yosida theorem to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Hille–Yosida theorem from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

In functional analysis in mathematics, the Hille–Yosida theorem characterizes the generators of strongly continuous one-parameter semigroups of linear operators on Banach spaces. It is sometimes stated for the special case of contraction semigroups, with the general case being called the Feller–Miyadera–Phillips theorem (after William Feller, Isao Miyadera, and Ralph Phillips). The contraction semigroup case is widely used in the theory of Markov processes. In other scenarios, the closely related Lumer–Phillips theorem is often more useful in determining whether a given operator generates a strongly continuous contraction semigroup. The Hille–Yosida theorem is named after mathematicians Einar Hille and Kōsaku Yosida, who independently proved it around 1948.

Formal definitions

If X is a Banach space, a one-parameter semigroup of operators on X is a family of operators indexed on the non-negative real numbers {T(t)} t ∈ [0, ∞) such that

T ( 0 ) = I {\displaystyle T(0)=I\quad }

T ( s + t ) = T ( s ) ∘ T ( t ) , ∀ t , s ≥ 0. {\displaystyle T(s+t)=T(s)\circ T(t),\quad \forall t,s\geq 0.}

The semigroup is said to be strongly continuous, also called a (C0) semigroup, if and only if the mapping

t ↦ T ( t ) x {\displaystyle t\mapsto T(t)x}

is continuous for all x ∈ X, where [0, ∞) has the usual topology and X has the norm topology. The infinitesimal generator of a one-parameter semigroup T is an operator A defined on a possibly proper subspace of X as follows:

The domain of A is the set of x ∈ X such that

h − 1 ( T ( h ) x − x ) {\displaystyle h^{-1}{\bigg (}T(h)x-x{\bigg )}}

has a limit as h approaches 0 from the right. The value of Ax is the value of the above limit. In other words, Ax is the right-derivative at 0 of the function

t ↦ T ( t ) x . {\displaystyle t\mapsto T(t)x.}

The infinitesimal generator of a strongly continuous one-parameter semigroup is a closed linear operator defined on a dense linear subspace of X. The Hille–Yosida theorem provides a necessary and sufficient condition for a closed linear operator A on a Banach space to be the infinitesimal generator of a strongly continuous one-parameter semigroup.

Statement of the theorem Let A be a linear operator defined on a linear subspace D(A) of the Banach space X, ω a real number, and M > 0. Then A generates a strongly continuous semigroup T that satisfies ‖ T ( t ) ‖ ≤ M e ω t {\displaystyle \|T(t)\|\leq M{\rm {e}}^{\omega t}} if and only if

A is closed and D(A) is dense in X, every real λ > ω belongs to the resolvent set of A and for such λ and for all positive integers n,

‖ ( λ I − A ) − n ‖ ≤ M ( λ − ω ) n . {\displaystyle \|(\lambda I-A)^{-n}\|\leq {\frac {M}{(\lambda -\omega )^{n}}}.}

Hille-Yosida theorem for contraction semigroups In the general case the Hille–Yosida theorem is mainly of theoretical importance since the estimates on the powers of the resolvent operator that appear in the statement of the theorem can usually not be checked in concrete examples. In the special case of contraction semigroups (M = 1 and ω = 0 in the above theorem) only the case n = 1 has to be checked and the theorem also becomes of some practical importance. The explicit statement of the Hille–Yosida theorem for contraction semigroups is: Let A be a linear operator defined on a linear subspace D(A) of the Banach space X. Then A generates a contraction semigroup if and only if

A is closed and D(A) is dense in X, every real λ > 0 belongs to the resolvent set of A and for such λ,

‖ ( λ I − A ) − 1 ‖ ≤ 1 λ . {\displaystyle \|(\lambda I-A)^{-1}\|\leq {\frac {1}{\lambda }}.}

See also Stone's theorem on one-parameter unitary groups

Notes

References Riesz, F.; Sz.-Nagy, B. (1995), Functional analysis. Reprint of the 1955 original, Dover Books on Advanced Mathematics, Dover, ISBN 0-486-66289-6 Reed, Michael; Simon, Barry (1975), Methods of modern mathematical physics. II. Fourier analysis, self-adjointness., Academic Press, ISBN 0-12-585050-6 Engel, Klaus-Jochen; Nagel, Rainer (2000), One-parameter semigroups for linear evolution equations, Springer, ISBN 0-387-98463-1 Arendt, Wolfgang; Batty, Charles; Hieber, Matthias; Neubrander, Frank (2001), Vector-valued Laplace Transforms and Cauchy Problems, Birkhauser, ISBN 0-8176-6549-8 Staffans, Olof (2005), Well-posed linear systems, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-82584-9 Feller, William (1971), An introduction to probability theory and its applications, vol. II (Second ed.), New York: John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-25709-5 Vrabie, Ioan I. (2003), C0-semigroups and applications, North-Holland Mathematics Studies, vol. 191, Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing, ISBN 0-444-51288-8

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Hille–Yosida theorem

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Hille–Yosida theorem claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In mathematics, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Hille–Yosida theorem before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Hille–Yosida theorem ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Hille–Yosida theorem

In research
Hille–Yosida theorem appears in mathematics research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Hille–Yosida theorem in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Hille–Yosida theorem is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Semigroup theory, Theorems in functional analysis, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Hille–Yosida theorem outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Hille–Yosida theorem in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Hille–Yosida theorem means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Hille–Yosida theorem out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hille–Yosida theorem in simple terms?

In functional analysis in mathematics, the Hille–Yosida theorem characterizes the generators of strongly continuous one-parameter semigroups of linear operators on Banach spaces. It is sometimes stated for the special case of contraction semigroups, with the general case being called the Feller–Miy…

Why does Hille–Yosida theorem matter?

Because it connects several mathematics ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Hille–Yosida theorem?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Hille–Yosida theorem.

Tags

  • Semigroup theory
  • Theorems in functional analysis

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