Representable monotone operators and limits of sequences of maximal monotone operators (Q430138)

Given a reflexive Banach space, the \textit{lower limit} of a sequence \(\{T_n:X\rightrightarrows X^*\}_n\) of maximal monotone operators is defined as \[ \liminf T_n=\{\displaystyle\lim_n (x_n,x^*_n) \,:\, (x_n,x_n^*)\in T_n\text{ for all }n\in\mathbb{N}\}. \] In this work, the authors discuss some properties regarding sequences of maximal monotone operators defined in reflexive Banach spaces with strictly convex primal and dual norms. There is no loss of generality in assuming this, due to a well known result by \textit{E. Asplund} [Isr. J. Math. 5, 227--233 (1967; Zbl 0153.44301)]. The main result, which states that the lower limit of such sequences is representable, is then applied to the variational sum of monotone operators and the variational composition of a maximal monotone operator with a continuous operator. The variational sum of two maximal monotone operators \(T_1,T_2:X\rightrightarrows X^*\) is defined as \[ T_1\mathop{+}_vT_2=\bigcap_{\mathcal{I}}\liminf_n(T_{1,\lambda_n}+T_{2,\mu_n}), \] where \(\mathcal{I}\) is the set of pairs of non-negative sequences, with positive sum, converging to 0. This sum was already studied by the first author in [J. Convex Anal. 16, No.~ 3--4, 767--778 (2009; Zbl 1191.47065)]. Direct use of the definition and the authors' main theorem yield that this sum is representable. In the same fashion, the authors prove the representability of the variational composition of a maximal monotone operator with a continuous operator.