Hilbert complexes (Q1196574)

A Hilbert complex is just a complex \[ 0\to {\mathcal D}_0@> D_0>> {\mathcal D_1}@> D_1>>\cdots @> D_{N- 1}>> {\mathcal D}_N\to 0, \] where the \(D_j\) are closed operators between Hilbert spaces with domain \({\mathcal D}_j\) and \(D_{j+ 1}\circ D_j= 0\). Although this is a fairly simple object, it reflects surprisingly much of the structure known from elliptic complexes on noncompact manifolds, the main application the authors have in mind. In this paper they undertake a systematic study of Hilbert complexes and their relationship with elliptic complexes. It turns out that this perspective gives a common structure to various known theorems along with generalizations and extensions. The authors apply the abstract machinery to the de Rham complex in several singular situations.