Internal sets and internal functions in Colombeau theory (Q2474967)

In the structural theory of Colombeau algebras of generalized functions, starting with [\textit{M.\,Oberguggenberger}, ``Multiplication of distributions and applications to partial differential equations'' (New York:\ Wiley) (1992; Zbl 0818.46036)], a fruitful transfer of ideas and concepts from nonstandard analysis has taken place. The paper under review continues these studies by considering Colombeau generalized functions as pointwise functions on so-called internal sets of generalized points. Denoting by \(\mathcal{G}_E\) the Colombeau space modelled over a given locally convex space \(E\) [see \textit{C.\,Garetto}, Acta Appl.\ Math.\ 88, No.\,1, 81--123 (2005; Zbl 1110.46031)], for any net \((A_\varepsilon)_\varepsilon\) of subsets of \(E\), the corresponding internal set \(A\) is the set of all \(u\in \mathcal{G}_E\) having a representative \((u_\varepsilon)_\varepsilon\) such that \(u_\varepsilon\in A_\varepsilon\) for \(\varepsilon\) sufficiently small. The authors study some basic properties of internal sets (subsets, intersections, unions). A crucial notion here is what the authors call `finite interleaving'. The main result of the paper is a saturation principle closely analogous to that known from nonstandard analysis: every countable family of internal subsets with the finite intersection property and satisfying a certain boundedness condition has non-void intersection. Several interesting applications of this principle are worked out, e.g., the existence of a (generalized) mollifier with compact support and all moments vanishing is shown, and new proofs of the spherical completeness of the ring of generalized numbers and of the completeness of \(\mathcal{G}_E\) are given. Finally, overspill and underspill principles analogous to nonstandard analysis are established.