limit of evaluated automorphisms in a Banach algebra

67 Views Asked by At

Let $\mathcal{A}=\operatorname{M}_k(\mathbb{R})$ be the Banach algebra of $k\times k$ real matrices and let $(U_n)_{n\in\mathbb{N}}\subset\operatorname{GL}_k(\mathbb{R})$ be a sequence of invertible elements such that $U_n\to 0$ as $n\to\infty$. Define $\sigma_n\in\operatorname{Aut}(\mathcal{A})$ via $X\mapsto U_nXU_n^{-1}$. Suppose I have a sequence $(W_n)_{n\in\mathbb{N}}\subset\mathcal{A}$ such that $W_n\to W\in\mathcal{A}$ as $n\to\infty$. I would like to determine $\lim_{n\to\infty}\sigma_n(W_n)$.

My question is how can I approach such a problem? It looks like something that should have a general answer (for $\mathcal{A}$ not necessarily finite-dimensional Banach algebra over the reals) in the theory of operator algebras, but I have a rather poor background there. If it is something relatively easy, I would rather appreciate a hint or reference than a full answer, so I can work it out further on my own (I am just trying to get back on the math track after some time of troubles).

Thanks in advance for any help!

1

There are 1 best solutions below

1
On BEST ANSWER

This limit need not exist. For example, let's work in $M_2(\mathbb R)$.

If $$ U_n= \left( \begin{array}{cc} \frac{1}{n} & 0 \\ 0 & \frac{1}{n^2} \end{array} \right), $$ then $\Vert U_n \Vert \to 0$ as $n \to \infty$, and $$ U_n^{-1}= \left( \begin{array}{cc} {n} & 0 \\ 0 & {n^2} \end{array} \right). $$ If we now let $$ W_n= \left( \begin{array}{cc} 0 & \frac{1}{\sqrt{n}} \\ 0 & 0 \end{array} \right), $$ then $W_n \to 0$ as $n \to \infty$, but $$ \sigma_n (W_n) = U_n W_n U_n^{-1}= \left( \begin{array}{cc} 0 & \sqrt{n} \\ 0 & 0 \end{array} \right), $$ which does not converge as $n \to \infty$.