Prerequisites:
Basic real analysis (i.e. the equivalent of a first year
graduate course in real analysis), including point set topology.
Basic linear algebra.
Recommended Books:
There will be no textbook. The following books
contain part of what I plan to cover in the course:
1) John B. Conway, A Course in Functional Analysis,
Springer GTM 96, 2nd edition (January 1997).
2) John B. Conway, A Course in Operator Theory, Graduate
Studies in Mathematics, American Math. Soc. (1999).
3) Barry Simon and Stephen Reed, Functional Analysis,
Academic Press, 1997, 2nd edition.
4) Gert Pedersen, Analysis Now,
Springer Verlag, GTM 118, 1988 (revised edition).
Syllabus:
The course will start off with a discussion of the basic principles
of functional analysis such as the Hahn-Banach theorem, the open mapping
theorem, the closed graph theorem and the uniform boundedness principle.
These are fundamental theorems which are used in various areas of
mathematics such as applied analysis, representation theory, operator
theory, operator algebras and noncommutative geometry. We will then
present topological vector spaces including the separation version
of the Hahn-Banach theorem, weak topologies and Alaoglu's theorem.
If time permits we will add a brief chapter on the theory of distributions
and perhaps one on fixed point theorems.
In the next part of the course we will discuss basic Hilbert space techniques.
These techniques play an important role in many different areas of
science as for instance in quantum mechanics, quantum information
theory, operator algebras, approximation theory and wavelets. We will
prove elementary facts about bounded operators on
Hilbert space, including compact and Fredholm operators. If time permits,
we will present the spectral theorem for normal operators on Hilbert space,
which leads to the functional calculus, an important tool in operator
theory and operator algebras. Depending on time and interests of the
participants we might take a few detours to quantum mechanics, group
representation theory, unbounded operators and operator algebras throughout
the course.
Grading: The course grade will be based on attendance and
weekly homework problems. There will be no exams.