Around the Van Daele-Schmüdgen theorem (Q487208)

Let \(A\) be a positive self-adjoint operator on a Hilbert space \(\mathcal H\). If \(A\) is injective, then there exist two densely defined closed symmetric restrictions \(A_1\) and \(A_2\) of \(A\) such that \(\mathrm{dom}(A_1) \cap\,\mathrm{dom}(A_2) =\{0\}\). This result is referred to as Van-Daele theorem [\textit{A. Van Daele}, Bull. Soc. Math. Belg., Sér. B 34, 25--40 (1982; Zbl 0498.47002)]. Let \(B\) be a closed unbounded densely defined operator on \(\mathcal H\). Then there exists an orthogonal projection \(P\) such that \(R(P) \cap\,\mathrm{dom}(B) = R(I-P) \cap\,\mathrm{dom}(B)=\{0\}\). This is called Schmüdgen theorem [\textit{K. Schmuedgen}, J. Oper. Theory 9, 53--75 (1983; Zbl 0507.47009)]. The authors revisit these results and provide refinements with new proof approaches. They demonstrate how the existence of subspaces as in the results above leads to several pathological properties of unbounded self-adjoint operators.