Lebesgue type decompositions for nonnegative forms (Q1044525)

If \(\lambda\) and \(\mu\) are finite positive measures on a \(\sigma\)-algebra over a set \(X\), then the Lebesgue decomposition \(\lambda= \lambda_r+ \lambda_s\) is well-known, where \(\lambda_r\) is absolutely continuous and \(\lambda_s\) is singular with respect to \(\mu\). This induces a decomposition of the nonnegative sesquilinear form (for short only ``form'') \({\mathfrak t}(\varphi,\psi):= \int_X \varphi\bar{\psi}\,d\lambda\) defined on the linear span of all characteristic functions of measurable sets: By means of the forms \({\mathfrak t}_{\text{reg}} (\varphi,\psi):= \int_X \varphi \bar{\psi}\,d\lambda_r\) and \({\mathfrak t}_{\text{sing}} (\varphi,\psi):= \int_X \varphi \bar{\psi}\,d\lambda_s\), we obtain \({\mathfrak t}= {\mathfrak t}_{\text{reg}}+ {\mathfrak t}_{\text{sing}}\). Here, (i) \({\mathfrak t}_{\text{reg}}\) is closable and (ii) \({\mathfrak t}_{\text{sing}}\) is singular with respect to the form \({\mathfrak w} (\varphi,\psi):= \int_X \varphi\bar{\psi}\,d\mu\). Property (i) means \({\mathfrak t}_{\text{reg}} (\varphi_n- \varphi_m, \varphi_n- \varphi_m) \to 0\), \({\mathfrak w}(\varphi_n, \varphi_n)\to 0\Rightarrow {\mathfrak t}_{\text{reg}} (\varphi_n, \varphi_n)\to 0\) and property (ii) means for each \(\varphi\) the existence of \(\varphi_n\) with \({\mathfrak w} (\varphi_n, \varphi_n)\to 0\) and \({\mathfrak t}_{\text{sing}} (\varphi_n- \varphi, \varphi_n- \varphi)\to 0\). The present paper shows that there is a general principle behind this: Such a Lebesgue type decomposition is always possible for two forms \({\mathfrak t}\) and \({\mathfrak w}\) on a complex linear space \({\mathfrak V}\). A number of equivalent conditions for properties (i) and (ii) are given. In particular, a form is closable with respect to \({\mathfrak w}\) if and only if it is almost dominated by \({\mathfrak w}\). The essential tool for the characterization of properties (i) and (ii) is the introduction of a new form \({\mathfrak t}: {\mathfrak w}\) called the parallel sum. It turns out that among all Lebesgue type decompositions for \({\mathfrak t}\) and \({\mathfrak w}\) there is exactly one, the so-called Lebesgue decomposition, such that \({\mathfrak t}_{\text{reg}}\) is the maximum of all forms majorized by \({\mathfrak t}\) which are almost dominated by \({\mathfrak w}\). A necessary and sufficient condition is formulated such that there is no other Lebesgue type decomposition except the Lebesgue decomposition. Moreover, this theory is applied to positive definite kernels. From the theory for forms, moreover, the Lebesgue decomposition for bounded nonnegative operators in a Hilbert space is also obtained. This was already presented by \textit{T.\,Ando} [Acta Sci.\ Math.\ 38, 253--260 (1976; Zbl 0337.47011)] and, together with a problem posed by \textit{B.\,Simon} [J.~Funct.\ Anal.\ 28, 377--385 (1978; Zbl 0413.47029)], appears to have inspired the present work.