The kernel theorem of Hilbert-Schmidt operators. (Q1874575)

The author provides a characterization of all Hilbert-Schmidt operator acting on \(L^1\)-sections of a vector bundle with fiber a separable Hilbert space \(H\) over a compact Riemannian manifold \(M\). In order to obtain this characterization, he defines the vector bundle of Hilbert-Schmidt operators on \(H\), and in the sequel an application is made of the classical kernel theorem of Hilbert-Schmidt operators. This characterization of Hilbert-Schmidt operators has been extensively applied in a number of problems coming out of geometric functional analysis and mathematical physics. In Section 2, the author defines the vector bundle of Hilbert-Schmidt operators over a manifold, and in Section 3 the kernel theorem is proved in this general setting. A very nice corollary is obtained that states that operators mapping \(L^2\)-sections into differentiable sections in the distributional sense have an integral kernel.