Ubiquitous subdifferentials, \(r_L\)-density and maximal monotonicity (Q904306): Difference between revisions

Let \(E\) be a real Banach space. A ubiquitous subdifferential \(\partial_u\) is a rule that associates to every proper lsc function \(f:E\to\mathbb{R}\cup\{+\infty\}\) a set-valued mapping \(\partial_uf:\) dom\((f)\rightrightarrows E^* \) such that (i) \;\; \(0\in \partial_uf(x)\) if \(f\) attains a strict global minimum at \(x\); (ii)\;\; \(\partial_u(f+h)(x)\subset \partial_uf(x)+\partial_uh(x)\) for every \(x\in\) dom\((f)\) and every continuous convex real-valued function \(h\) on \(E\). This definition includes a lot of previously considered abstract or concrete subdifferentials. A key tool in the study of the properties of this ubiquitous subdifferential is the mapping \(r_L:E\times E^*\to\mathbb{R}\) defined by \[ r_L(x,x^*)=\frac12\,\|x\|^2+\frac12\,\|x\|^2+\langle x,x^*\rangle\,. \] If \(j:=\frac12\,\|\cdot\|^2\), then \(J=\partial j\) is the duality mapping and \(r_L\) can be written as \( r_L(x,x^*)=j(x)+j(x^*)+\langle x,x^*\rangle\,.\) As the authors mention in the abstract: ``[\dots] we [\dots] investigate an abstract subdifferential for which (using Ekeland's variational principle) we can prove an analog of the Brøndsted-Rockafellar property. We introduce the `\(r_L\)-density' of a subset of the product of a Banach space with its dual. A closed \(r_L\)-dense monotone set is maximally monotone, but we will also consider the case of nonmonotone closed \(r_L\)-dense sets. As a special case of our results, we can prove Rockafellar's result that the subdifferential of a proper convex lower semicontinuous function is maximally monotone.'' Approximate Minty-type theorems (some in Hilbert spaces) and some results on monotone polars are included as well.