Compactness of Markov and Schrödinger semigroups: a probabilistic approach (Q2403200)

Let \(E\) be a locally compact, separable metric space and \(m\) a positive Radon measure on \(E\) with full support. Let \(X\) be a irreducible \(m\)-symmetric Markov process on \(E\) having the strong (resolvent) Feller property. If \(X\) is tight in the sense that, for any \(\varepsilon>0\), there exists a compact set \(K\) such that \(\sup_{x\in E} R_1\,1_{K^c}(x)\leq\varepsilon\), where \(R_1\) is the 1-resolvent \(\operatorname{od}X\) and \(1_{k^c}\) denotes the indicator function of the complement of \(K\), then the transition semigroup of \(X\) consists of compact operators on \(L^2(E,m)\) [\textit{M. Takeda}, Trans. Am. Math. Soc. 372, No. 6, 3905--3920 (2019; Zbl 1480.60228)]. The authors use the result from the aforementioned paper to provide probabilistic compactness proofs for the semigroups generated by Dirichlet-Laplacians and Schrödinger operators with positive potential, respectively. For analytic proofs, see [\textit{B. Simon}, Methods Funct. Anal. Topol. 15, No. 1, 61--66 (2009; Zbl 1199.47198)] and [\textit{D. Lenz} et al., Math. Nachr. 283, No. 1, 94--103 (2010; Zbl 1243.47070)].