Theorem 3.18 from the book by D. S. Jones, The theory of generalised functions

28 Views Asked by At

I'm reading D.S.Jones' book, The theory of generalized functions, and in particular I'm studying theorem 3.18 on page 84, in the proof of which I don't understand a statement he makes. Before expressing the specific doubt, I need to provide some context to explain myself better. Let's start with two definitions.

A good function $\gamma(x)$ is defined as a function acting on reals, infinitely differentiable and such that it and all its derivatives are a $O\left(|x|^{-N}\right)$, for all $N$.

A generalized function is by definition a family of good functions $\{\gamma_n(x)\}_{n\in\mathbb{N}}$ such that the limit exists $\lim_{n\to\infty}\int_{-\infty}^\infty\gamma_n(x)\gamma(x)\mathrm{d}x$ for all good $\gamma(x)$.

I also report a theorem, without proving it (theorem 3.16 of the book).

$\forall\left\{\gamma_n(x)\right\}_{n\in\mathbb{N}}$, there exists $k$, $r$, and a constant $K$ such that $\left| \lim_{n\to\infty}\int_{-\infty}^\infty \gamma_n(x) \gamma(x) \mathrm{d}x\right| \leq K \max_{x\in\mathbb{R}}(1+x^2)^{k/2}\gamma^{(r)}(x)$.

Having said that, let's get to the question. In theorem 3.18 he defines a linear functional $F$ "on the space of good functions of the form $(1+x^2)^{k/2}\gamma^{(r)}(x)$, where $k$ and $r$ are those of theorem 3.16" (textual quote) in the following way:

$$F\left( (1+x^2)^{k/2}\gamma^{(r)}(x)\right) = \lim_{n\to\infty}\int_{-\infty}^\infty \gamma_n(x) \gamma(x)\mathrm{d}x$$

and says that by theorem 3.16 this functional has norm $K$.

The thing I don't understand is: is the domain of $F$ really a vector space? I don't see this, because if I add two good functions of that type, I get:

$$(1+x^2)^{k_1/2}\gamma_1^{(r_1)}(x) + (1+x^2)^{k_1/2}\gamma_2^{(r_2)}(x) \overset{?}{=}(1+x^2)^{k_3/2}\gamma_3^{(r_3)}(x)$$

and who would be then $k_3$, $r_3$ and $\gamma_3$? I might even try to say that $k_3=0$, $r_3=0$ and $\gamma_3 =(1+x^2)^{k_1/2}\gamma_1^{(r_1)}(x) + (1+x^2)^{k_1/2}\gamma_2^{(r_2)}(x) $, but then I could no longer exploit theorem 3.16 to be able to say that the norm of $F$ is $K$.