Nonlinear maps of convex sets in Hilbert spaces with application to kinetic equations (Q734072)

Let \(\mathcal H\) be a separable Hilbert space, \(\mathcal U\subset \mathcal H\) open convex and \(f:\mathcal U\to \mathcal H\) a smooth map. Let also \(\Omega\) be an open convex subset of \(\mathcal H\) such that \(\overline{\Omega}\subset \mathcal U\). The paper is concerned with the following two problems: {\parindent5mm \begin{itemize}\item[1.] Supposing \(f\) Lipschitz, find sufficient conditions such that for sufficiently small \(\varepsilon\) (depending on Lip\((f)\)), the image \((I+\varepsilon f)(\Omega)\) of \(\Omega\) by \(I+\varepsilon f\) is convex. \item[2.] Supposing \(df(u):\mathcal H\to\mathcal H\) symmetrizable with the spectrum \(\sigma(df(u))\) contained in \((0,\infty)\), find sufficient conditions in order that \(f(\Omega)\) is convex. \end{itemize}} It turns out that, as in the finite-dimensional case, the most important condition relating \(f\) and \(\partial \Omega\) is that the tangent space \(T_\omega(\partial \Omega)\) to \(\partial \Omega\) at \(\omega\) satisfies \(df(\omega)(T_\omega(\partial \Omega)) \subset T_\omega(\partial \Omega)\) for every \(\omega\in\partial\Omega\). The main tool used to overcome the difficulties specific to the infinite-dimensional case is the concept of standard Fredholm operator, meaning an operator of the form \(c I+K\) with \(c\geq 0\) and \(K\) compact. One supposes that \(df(\omega)\) and \(d^2f(\omega)\) are standard Fredholm operators on \(\mathcal H_0=T_\omega(\partial \Omega)\) for every \(w\in\partial \Omega\). As applications, the author shows that the first result gives an invariance principle for finite difference schemes for nonlinear differential equations in Hilbert spaces, while the second one provides an invariance principle for certain convex sets in an \(L^2\)-space under the flow of a class of kinetic transport equations. The obtained results extend to the infinite-dimensional setting those obtained by the author in the finite-dimensional case [cf. Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 160, No.~3, 245--269 (2001; Zbl 0993.65096) and Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 171, No.~2, 297--299 (2004; Zbl 1059.65073)].