Vector measures: Where are their integrals? (Q1007097)

A generalization of the notion of integration map associated to a vector measure is studied. Let \((\Omega,\Sigma)\) be a measurable space and let \(\nu:\Sigma \to Z\) be a countably additive vector measure. If \(f\) is a \(\nu\)-integrable function and \(A \in \Sigma\), the integral \(\int_A f \, d \nu\) is defined as an element of \(Z\) which satisfies \(\langle \int_A f \, d\nu, z^* \rangle= \int_A f d z^* \nu\) for every \(z^* \in Z^*\). If the function \(f\) is only weakly integrable, i.e., it is integrable with respect to all the scalar measures \(z^* \nu\) defined by \(\nu\) in the usual way, then it is also possible to find an integral belonging to the bidual of \(Z\) which satisfies the same relation. The same can be done for every element of the bidual of \(L^1(\nu)\), so it makes sense to consider and study the extended integration operator \(I^{**}:L^1(\nu)^{**}\to Z^{**}\) and analyse when the range of the operator lies in subspaces \(Y\) of \(Z^{**}\) which allow easier descriptions than the whole space. For the case of \(Z\) being a Banach function space \(X\), the cases \(Y=X\), \(Y=X''\) (the Köthe bidual of \(X\)), \(Y={X'}^*\) (the dual of the Köthe dual) are considered. Some particular cases of kernel operators are also considered, for which the extended operator \(I^{**}_\nu\) is analysed. Consequently, this paper completes the picture of the structure of the integrals in the setting of spaces of integrable functions with respect to vector measures. In this sense, it becomes a useful tool -- in fact, a necessary tool for some purposes -- for mathematicians that are interested in this subject.