In functional analysis and related areas of mathematics, the Mackey topology, named after George Mackey, is the finest topology for a topological vector space which still preserves the continuous dual. In other words the Mackey topology does not make linear functions continuous which were discontinuous in the default topology. A topological vector space (TVS) is called a Mackey space if its topology is the same as the Mackey topology.

The Mackey topology is the opposite of the weak topology, which is the coarsest topology on a topological vector space which preserves the continuity of all linear functions in the continuous dual.

The Mackey–Arens theorem states that all possible dual topologies are finer than the weak topology and coarser than the Mackey topology.

Definition edit

Definition for a pairing edit

Given a pairing   the Mackey topology on   induced by   denoted by   is the polar topology defined on   by using the set of all  -compact disks in  

When   is endowed with the Mackey topology then it will be denoted by   or simply   or   if no ambiguity can arise.

A linear map   is said to be Mackey continuous (with respect to pairings   and  ) if   is continuous.

Definition for a topological vector space edit

The definition of the Mackey topology for a topological vector space (TVS) is a specialization of the above definition of the Mackey topology of a pairing. If   is a TVS with continuous dual space   then the evaluation map   on   is called the canonical pairing.

The Mackey topology on a TVS   denoted by   is the Mackey topology on   induced by the canonical pairing  

That is, the Mackey topology is the polar topology on   obtained by using the set of all weak*-compact disks in   When   is endowed with the Mackey topology then it will be denoted by   or simply   if no ambiguity can arise.

A linear map   between TVSs is Mackey continuous if   is continuous.

Examples edit

Every metrizable locally convex   with continuous dual   carries the Mackey topology, that is   or to put it more succinctly every metrizable locally convex space is a Mackey space.

Every Hausdorff barreled locally convex space is Mackey.

Every Fréchet space   carries the Mackey topology and the topology coincides with the strong topology, that is  

Applications edit

The Mackey topology has an application in economies with infinitely many commodities.[1]

See also edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Bewley, T. F. (1972). "Existence of equilibria in economies with infinitely many commodities". Journal of Economic Theory. 4 (3): 514. doi:10.1016/0022-0531(72)90136-6.

Bibliography edit