ON THE INVARIANT COMPLEMENTABILITY OF SOME SUBSPACES GENERATED BY A LINEAR OPERATOR
MATHEMATICS
Submitted 1966-01-01 | SovietRxiv: ru-196601.01110 | Translated from Russian

Abstract Generated abstract

This paper studies when the subspace of null elements of a linear operator on a vector space admits an invariant complement. It proves several sufficient conditions, including bounded height of null elements, finite-dimensionality of the null subspace, stabilization conditions on kernels intersected with operator ranges, and special cases involving invariant subspaces contained in the null elements. The authors also construct an example showing that an invariant complement to the null subspace need not exist in general, and that maximal invariant subspaces disjoint from the null subspace need not be complements. A final result shows that for locally algebraic operators every maximal invariant subspace disjoint from the null elements is indeed a complement.

Full Text

UDC 512.874

MATHEMATICS

M. A. GOLDMAN, E. M. LEVICH

ON THE INVARIANT COMPLEMENTABILITY OF SOME SUBSPACES GENERATED BY A LINEAR OPERATOR

(Presented by Academician L. V. Kantorovich on 17 V 1965)

Let \(X\) be a vector space; \(A\) a linear operator mapping \(X\) into \(X\); \(N_A\) the set of all null elements of the operator \(A\) \(\left(N_A=\bigcup_{n=1}^{\infty} Z_{A^n}, \text{ where } Z_{A^n}=\{x \mid A^n x=\theta\}\right)\). We shall call the height \(h(x)\) of an element \(x \in N_A\) the least of the numbers \(n\) for which \(A^n x=\theta\). Put \(H_A=\sup \{h(x)\mid x\in N_A\}\).

Theorem 1. If \(H_A<\infty\), then in \(X\) there exists an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(N_A\).

Proof will be carried out by induction on the magnitude \(H_A\). The case where \(H_A=0\) is trivial. Suppose that for \(H_A=m\) the theorem is valid, and let \(H_A=m+1\). Put \(N_A'=N_A\cap A(X)\), \(N_A''=N_A\ominus N_A'\), and denote by \(X_1\) a complement to \(N_A''\) in \(X\) containing \(A(X)\). Let \(A_1\) be the restriction of the operator \(A\) to \(X_1\); then \(N_{A_1}=N_A\cap X_1=N_A'\). Since \(H_A=m+1\), it follows that \(H_{A_1}=m\). By the induction hypothesis, there exists an \(A_1\)-invariant complement to \(N_{A_1}\) in \(X_1\). This complement will also be an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(N_A\) in \(X\).

Corollary. If \(\dim N_A<\infty\), then in \(X\) there exists an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(N_A\).

Denote by \(\mathfrak{A}(x_0)\) the linear hull of the set \(\{x_0, Ax_0,\ldots,\ldots,A^n x_0,\ldots\}\), \(x_0\in X\).

Theorem 2. Let \(H_A<\infty\). If \(x_0\in N_A\) and \(h(x_0)=H_A\), then in \(X\) there exists an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(\mathfrak{A}(x_0)\).

The proof of this theorem is similar to the proof of Theorem 1.

Theorem 3. If \(X_1\) is a subspace in \(N_A\) and \(A(X_1)=X_1\), then in \(X\) there exists an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(X_1\).

The proof of this theorem is based on the following lemmas.

Lemma 1. If \(X_1\) is a subspace in \(N_A\) and \(A(X_1)=X_1\), then the equation

\[ \sum_{k=1}^{n} \alpha_k A^k x = y, \]

where \(y\in X_1\), has a solution in \(X_1\).

Proof. The case where \(y=\theta\) is trivial. Let \(y\ne\theta\). If \(\alpha_0\ne 0\), then the required solution can be found in the form

\[ x=\sum_{i=0}^{m} \beta_i A^i y, \]

where \(m=h(y)-1\). If \(\alpha_0=\alpha_1=\cdots=\alpha_{j-1}\), \(\alpha_j\ne 0\), then represent our equation in the form \(A^j\left(\sum_{k=j}^{n}\alpha_k A^{k-j}x\right)=y\). Since \(A(X_1)=X_1\), there is a \(y_0\in X_1\) such that \(A^j y_0=y\). We arrive at the equation

\[ \sum_{k=0}^{n-j} \alpha'_k A^k x = y, \]

where \(\alpha'_k=\alpha_{k+j}\). This equation has a solution in \(X_1\), since \(\alpha'_0\ne 0\). The lemma is proved.

Define on \(\mathfrak A(x_0)\) the function \(f_{x_0}\), taking \(f_{x_0}(y)\) to be the least of the numbers \(p\) occurring in all possible representations of the element \(y\) in the form
\[ y=\sum_{k=0}^{p}\alpha_k A^k x_0. \]

Lemma 2. Let \(\mathfrak B\) be some \(A\)-invariant subspace in \(\mathfrak A(x_0)\). If \(y_0\in\mathfrak B\) and
\[ f_{x_0}(y_0)=\min\{f_{x_0}(y)\mid y\in\mathfrak B\}, \]
then \(\mathfrak B=\mathfrak A(y_0)\).

Proof. Obviously, \(\mathfrak A(y_0)\subset\mathfrak B\). We prove the inclusion \(\mathfrak B\subset\mathfrak A(y_0)\). Let
\[ y_0=\sum_{i=0}^{n}\alpha_i A^i x_0,\quad \alpha_n\ne0,\qquad y=\sum_{k=0}^{m}\beta_k A^k x_0,\quad \beta_m\ne0,\quad y\in\mathfrak B. \]
By the condition of the lemma, \(m\ge n\). It is required to show that \(y\in\mathfrak A(y_0)\). We carry out the proof by induction on the quantity \(k(y)=m-n\). If \(k(y)=0\), then \(y=\lambda y_0\in\mathfrak A(y_0)\). Suppose that \(k(y)=l+1\), and suppose the inclusion \(z\in\mathfrak A(y_0)\) is true each time \(z\in\mathfrak B\) and \(0\le k(z)\le l\).

Take
\[ z=y-\frac{\beta_m}{\alpha_n}A^{m-n}y_0. \]
It is clear that \(z\in\mathfrak B\) and \(0\le k(z)\le l\); consequently, \(z\in\mathfrak A(y_0)\), and
\[ y=z+\frac{\beta_m}{\alpha_n}A^{m-n}y_0\in\mathfrak A(y_0). \]
The lemma is proved.

Lemma 3. Let \(X_1, X_2\) be disjoint subspaces in \(X\); \(X_0=X_1\oplus X_2\); \(Q_1\) and \(Q_2\) are the projection operators generated by the decomposition of \(X_0\) into the direct sum of the subspaces \(X_1\) and \(X_2\) (\(Q_1\) and \(Q_2\) are defined on \(X_0\), \(Q_1(X_0)=X_1\), \(Q_2(X_0)=X_2\)).

For any \(E\subset X\) the equality holds
\[ Q_1(X_0\cap E)=(X_2+E)\cap X_1 \quad \bigl(Q_2(X_0\cap E)=(X_1+E)\cap X_2\bigr). \]

Lemma 4. Let \(X_0, X_1, X_2, Q_1, Q_2\) denote the same objects as in Lemma 3. If \(X_1, X_2\) are \(A\)-invariant subspaces, then, whatever the element \(x_0\in X\), the equality
\[ \mathfrak A(Q_1v_0)=(X_2+\mathfrak A(u_0))\cap X_1 \quad \bigl(\mathfrak A(Q_2v_0)=(X_1+\mathfrak A(u_0))\cap X_2\bigr), \]
holds, where \(v_0\) is some element of \(X_0\cap\mathfrak A(u_0)\) for which
\[ f_{u_0}(v_0)=\min\{f_{u_0}(v)\mid v\in X_0\cap\mathfrak A(u_0)\}. \]

Proof. Putting \(E=\mathfrak A(u_0)\) in Lemma 3, we obtain
\[ Q_1(X_0\cap\mathfrak A(u_0))=(X_2+\mathfrak A(u_0))\cap X_1. \]
Since the space \(X_0\cap\mathfrak A(u_0)\) is \(A\)-invariant, by Lemma 2,
\[ X_0\cap\mathfrak A(u_0)=\mathfrak A(v_0). \]
Consequently,
\[ Q_1(\mathfrak A(v_0))=(X_2+\mathfrak A(u_0))\cap X_1. \]
To complete the proof it remains to take into account the equality
\[ Q_1(\mathfrak A(v_0))=\mathfrak A(Q_1v_0), \]
which follows from the commutativity on \(X_0\) of the operators \(A\) and \(Q_1\).

Proof of Theorem 3. Let \(X_2\) be a maximal \(A\)-invariant subspace in \(X\), disjoint from \(X_1\). Suppose that \(X_0=X_1\oplus X_2\ne X\). Let \(x_0\in X_0\). Choose in \(X_0\cap\mathfrak A(x_0)\) an element \(y_0\) satisfying the condition
\[ f_{x_0}(y_0)=\min\{f_{x_0}(y)\mid y\in X_0\cap\mathfrak A(x_0)\}, \]
and denote by \(P_0(A)\) the polynomial in \(A\) for which
\[ P_0(A)x_0=y_0. \]
By Lemma 1, there exists an element \(z_0\in X_1\) such that
\[ P_0(A)z_0=Q_1y_0. \]
Put
\[ u_0=x_0-z_0,\qquad v_0=P_0(A)u_0. \]
It is easy to see that
\[ f_{u_0}(v_0)=\min\{f_{u_0}(v)\mid v\in X_0\cap\mathfrak A(u_0)\}. \]
By Lemma 4, we have the equality
\[ (X_2+\mathfrak A(u_0))\cap X_1=\mathfrak A(Q_1v_0), \]
from which it follows that
\[ (X_2+\mathfrak A(u_0))\cap X_1=\{\theta\} \]
(for \(v_0=y_0-Q_1y_0\)). We have arrived at a contradiction, since \(X_2+\mathfrak A(u_0)\ne X_2\). The theorem is proved.

Corollary. Let
\[ M_A=\bigcap_{n=1}^{\infty}A^n(X). \]
If \(A(M_A)=M_A\), then in \(X\) there exists an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(M_A\cap N_A\).

Theorem 4. If, beginning with some number \(m\), the sets
\[ Z_n=Z_A\cap A^n(X),\quad n=0,1,\ldots, \]
coincide with one another, then in \(X\) there exists an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(N_A\).

Proof. It is known ([1], Theorem 1) that, under the hypotheses of the theorem being proved, \(A(M_A)=M_A\). Hence, by the corollary to Theorem 3, there exists in \(X\) an \(A\)-invariant complement \(X_1\) to \(M_A\cap N_A\). From these same hypotheses it is easy to conclude that
\[ \sup\{h(x)\mid x\in N_A\cap X_1\}=m. \]
Therefore, denoting by \(A_1\) the restriction of the operator \(A\) to \(X_1\), we have \(H_{A_1}=m<\infty\). By Theorem 1, there exists in \(X_1\) an \(A_1\)-invariant complement \(X_2\) to
\[ N_{A_1}=N_A\cap X_1. \]
Obviously, \(X_2\) will also be an \(A\)-invariant complement in \(X\) to \(N_A\).

Corollary. If at least one of the numbers \(\dim Z_A\) or \(\operatorname{codim} A(X)\) is finite, then there exists in \(X\) an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(N_A\) (for from these conditions the hypotheses of Theorem 4 follow (see [1], Theorem 2)).

We give an example of an operator \(A\) for whose null elements there does not exist an \(A\)-invariant complement in \(X\).

Consider the vector space \(X\) with basis
\[ a_{ij},\quad b_k,\quad c_m;\qquad i,j,k=1,2,\ldots;\quad j\le i;\quad m=0,1,\ldots . \]
Define on \(X\) a linear operator \(A\) by setting
\[ Aa_{i1}=\theta\quad (i=1,2,\ldots);\qquad Aa_{ij}=a_{i,j-1}\quad (i=1,2,\ldots;\ 2\le j\le i); \]
\[ Ab_k=b_{k+1}\quad (k=1,2,\ldots);\qquad Ac_0=b_1;\qquad Ac_m=c_{m-1}+a_{mm}\quad (m=1,2,\ldots). \]
The formulas
\[ A^{m+1}c_m=b_1\quad (m=0,1,\ldots),\qquad A^m c_{m+1}=c_1+\sum_{i=2}^{m+1} a_{i2}\quad (m=1,2,\ldots) \]
are valid. It is easy to see that \(a_{ij}\in N_A\). We shall show that the elements \(a_{ij}\) form a basis in \(N_A\). Let \(x\in N_A\) and
\[ x=\sum_{i=1}^{r}\sum_{j=1}^{i}\alpha_{ij}a_{ij} +\sum_{k=1}^{s}\beta_k b_k +\sum_{m=0}^{t}\gamma_m c_m . \]
Choose \(n>\max\{r,t\}\) such that \(A^n x=\theta\). Applying the operator \(A^n\) to the element \(x\), we obtain
\[ \theta=\sum_{k=1}^{s}\beta_k b_{k+n}+\sum_{m=0}^{t}\gamma_m b_{n-m}. \]
It follows that
\[ \beta_k=\gamma_m=0\quad (k=1,2,\ldots,s;\ m=1,2,\ldots,t). \]

Suppose that there exists an \(A\)-invariant complement \(F\) to \(N_A\). We shall show that
\[ c_m\in F\quad (m=1,2,\ldots). \]
For this, in the equality
\[ Ac_{m+1}=c_m+a_{m+1,m+1} \]
replace \(c_{m+1}\) by the sum \(c'_{m+1}+c''_{m+1}\), where
\[ c'_{m+1}\in N_A,\qquad c''_{m+1}\in F; \]
we obtain the equality
\[ Ac''_{m+1}-c_m=-Ac'_{m+1}+a_{m+1,m+1}. \]
Since the equation
\[ Ax=a_{m+1,m+1} \]
is insoluble, we have
\[ \theta\ne -Ac'_{m+1}+a_{m+1,m+1}. \]
Assuming that \(c_m\in F\), we arrive at the relation
\[ \theta\ne (Ac''_{m+1}-c_m)\in N_A\cap F, \]
contradicting the equality
\[ N_A\cap F=\{\theta\}. \]
Thus, \(c_m\in F\). In particular,
\[ c'_1\ne \theta. \]

Let
\[ c'_1=\sum_{i=1}^{r}\sum_{j=1}^{i}\alpha_{ij}a_{ij}. \]
Write the equalities
\[ A^r c''_{r+1}=A^r c_{r+1}-A^r c'_{r+1} =c_1+\sum_{i=2}^{r+1} a_{i2}-A^r c'_{r+1}, \]
from which it follows that
\[ A^r c''_{r+1}-c''_1=c'_1-A^r c'_{r+1}+\sum_{i=2}^{r+1} a_{i2}. \]
The obtained equality is contradictory, for
\[ A^r c''_{r+1}-c''_1\in F,\qquad c'_1-A^r c'_{r+1}+\sum_{i=2}^{r+1} a_{i2}\in N_A, \]
and
\[ c'_1-A^r c'_{r+1}+\sum_{i=2}^{r} a_{i2}\ne 0. \]
The latter follows from the fact that the element \(a_{r+1,2}\), which appears in the sum
\[ \sum_{i=2}^{r+1} a_{i2}, \]
does not occur in the expansions with respect to the basis \(a_{ij}\) of the null elements \(c'_1\) and \(A^r c'_{r+1}\). This proves that there is no \(A\)-invariant complement to \(N_A\).

The example constructed permits us to assert that not every maximal \(A\)-invariant subspace disjoint from \(N_A\) is a complement to \(N_A\) in \(X\). One can show that this assertion remains valid even in the case when
\[ \dim N_A<\infty . \]

However, the following theorem holds.

Theorem 5. If \(A\) is a locally algebraic operator, then every maximal \(A\)-invariant subspace disjoint from \(N_A\) is a complement to \(N_A\).

(The operator \(A\) is called locally algebraic if, for every \(x \in X\), the subspace \(\mathfrak A(x)\) is finite-dimensional.)

The proof of this theorem follows easily from the following lemma.

Lemma 5. Let \(E\) be some invariant subspace disjoint from \(N_A\). If \(x_0 \in E \oplus N_A\) and \(\mathfrak A(x_0)\) is a finite-dimensional subspace, then there exists an \(A\)-invariant subspace \(F \supset E\) such that \(F \cap N_A = \{\theta\}\) and \(x_0 \in F \oplus N_A\).

Proof. Let \(L\) be an \(A\)-invariant complement to \(N_A \cap \mathfrak A(x_0)\) in \(\mathfrak A(x_0)\). Since \(L\) contains no zeros of the operator \(A\) (except \(\theta\)), it follows that \(A(L)=L\).

It is clear that \(E \dot{+} L(=F)\), and \(F\) is an \(A\)-invariant subspace. We show that \(N_A \cap F=\{\theta\}\). To this end, note that the set \(L \setminus E\) is invariant with respect to \(A\) (by the invertibility of \(A\) on \(L\) and the \(A\)-invariance of \(L \cap E\)). Let

\[ y \in N_A \cap F = N_A \cap \{E+(L\setminus E)\}. \]

Then there exists an \(n\) such that \(A^n y=\theta\). Represent the element \(y\) in the form \(y=y' + y''\), where \(y' \in E\), \(y'' \in (L\setminus E)\cup\{\theta\}\). Since \(A^n y' \in E\), \(A^n y'' \in (L\setminus E)\cup\{\theta\}\), and \(A^n y' + A^n y''=\theta\), it follows that \(y=\theta\).

Latvian State University
named after P. Stučka

Received
1 IV 1965

REFERENCES

  1. M. A. Gol’dman, S. N. Krachkovskii, DAN, 158, No. 3 (1964).

Submission history

ON THE INVARIANT COMPLEMENTABILITY OF SOME SUBSPACES GENERATED BY A LINEAR OPERATOR