"$H=W$" in infinite dimensions

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Wang, Zhouzhe, Yu, Jiayang, Zhang, Xu, Zhao, Shiliang
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Wang, Zhouzhe
Yu, Jiayang
Zhang, Xu
Zhao, Shiliang
author_facet Wang, Zhouzhe
Yu, Jiayang
Zhang, Xu
Zhao, Shiliang
contents The classical ``$H=W$" theorem establishes the identity between two function spaces on an arbitrary nonempty open set in the Euclidean spaces: the space $W$ defined via weak derivatives, and the space $H$ defined as the closure of smooth functions within $W$ space. Extending this result to infinite-dimensional spaces is challenging due to the lack of a nontrivial translation-invariant measure and the proliferation of infinite sums inherent to infinite dimensions. In this paper, by adapting several techniques developed in our previous works, we prove that smooth functions are dense in the Sobolev space of functions on arbitrary non-empty open set in $\ell^2$, thereby establishing an infinite-dimensional counterpart of ``$H=W$". Such density results reduce the problem of deriving a priori $L^2$ estimates for differential operators -- originating from the classical Fredholm alternative and Carleman estimates -- to the simpler case of smooth functions. If approximation by smooth cylindrical functions is possible, the problem can be reduced to calculus. Unfortunately, this does not hold for every open set in $\ell^2$. However, we prove that such an approximation does hold on open sets that satisfy the segment condition.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_04136
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle "$H=W$" in infinite dimensions
Wang, Zhouzhe
Yu, Jiayang
Zhang, Xu
Zhao, Shiliang
Functional Analysis
Analysis of PDEs
The classical ``$H=W$" theorem establishes the identity between two function spaces on an arbitrary nonempty open set in the Euclidean spaces: the space $W$ defined via weak derivatives, and the space $H$ defined as the closure of smooth functions within $W$ space. Extending this result to infinite-dimensional spaces is challenging due to the lack of a nontrivial translation-invariant measure and the proliferation of infinite sums inherent to infinite dimensions. In this paper, by adapting several techniques developed in our previous works, we prove that smooth functions are dense in the Sobolev space of functions on arbitrary non-empty open set in $\ell^2$, thereby establishing an infinite-dimensional counterpart of ``$H=W$". Such density results reduce the problem of deriving a priori $L^2$ estimates for differential operators -- originating from the classical Fredholm alternative and Carleman estimates -- to the simpler case of smooth functions. If approximation by smooth cylindrical functions is possible, the problem can be reduced to calculus. Unfortunately, this does not hold for every open set in $\ell^2$. However, we prove that such an approximation does hold on open sets that satisfy the segment condition.
title "$H=W$" in infinite dimensions
topic Functional Analysis
Analysis of PDEs
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.04136