Markov processes and nonsymmetric Dirichlet forms without regularity (Q1262620)

This paper deals with the potential theory of transient right Markov processes in weak duality which are ``nearly symmetric'' [i.e., which satisfy the sector condition of \textit{M. L. Silverstein}, see Z. Wahrscheinlichkeitstheor. Verw. Geb. 41, 13-33 (1977; Zbl 0379.60075) and Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 244, 103-146 (1978; Zbl 0403.60066)]. Properties of the (non-symmetric, extended) Dirichlet space \({\mathcal D}\) associated to the dual pair are examined in detail; \({\mathcal D}\) is the principal tool. The aim of the paper is to extend several results known to hold for symmetric processes, or for nearly symmetric processes but under additional regularity assumptions, to these processes. In particular, it is proved that semipolar sets are quasi-polar (zero capacity), or equivalently, m-polar (where m is the duality measure).