Mackey topology

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

Definition for a pairing

Definition: Given a pairing (X, Y, b), the Mackey topology on X induced by (X, Y, b), denoted by τ(X, Y, b), is the polar topology defined on X by using the set of all 𝜎(X, Y, b)-compact disks in Y.

When X is endowed with the Mackey topology then it will be denoted by X_{τ(X, Y, b)} or simply X_{τ(X, Y)} or X_τ if no ambiguity can arise.

Definition: We say that the linear map F : X → W is Mackey continuous (with respect to pairings (X, Y, b) and (W, Z, c)) if F : (X, τ(X, Y, b)) → (W, τ(W, Z, c)) is continuous.

Definition for a topological vector space

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 X is a TVS with continuous dual space X', then the evaluation map (x, x') ↦ x'(x) on X × X' is called the canonical pairing.

Definition: The Mackey topology on a TVS X, denoted by τ(X, X'), is the Mackey topology on X induced by the canonical pairing ⟨X, X'⟩.

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

Definition: We say that the linear map F : X → Y between TVSs is Mackey continuous if F : (X, τ(X, X')) → (Y, τ(Y, Y')) is continuous.

Examples

• Every metrisable locally convex space (X, 𝒯) with continuous dual X' carries the Mackey topology, that is 𝒯 = τ(X, X'), or to put it more succinctly every metrisable locally convex space is a Mackey space.
• Every Hausdorff barreled locally convex space is Mackey.
• Every Fréchet space (X, 𝒯) carries the Mackey topology and the topology coincides with the strong topology, that is 𝒯 = τ(X, X') = β(X, X').

Applications

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

See also

• Dual system
• Mackey space
• Polar topology
• Strong topology
• Topologies on spaces of linear maps
• Weak topology

References

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.

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• Robertson, A.P.; W.J. Robertson (1964). Topological vector spaces. Cambridge Tracts in Mathematics. 53. Cambridge University Press. p. 62.
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• A.I. Shtern (2001) [1994], "Mackey topology", Encyclopedia of Mathematics, EMS Press