# Proof of “ The set of all self-adjoint operators are closed ”.

The set of all self-adjoint operators are closed in Hilbert space.

Let $T \in B(H)$ where $H$ is the Hilbert space and $B(H)$ denotes the set of linear operators from $H \mapsto H$.

We are working with the operator norm.

Adjoint of an operator $T$ is denoted by $T^*$.

An operator $T$ is said to self-adjoint if $T = T^*$ where $T^*$ is the adjoint of operator $T$.

To prove the above statement let us consider a sequence of self - adjoint operators $\{T_{n}\}$ converging to a operator $T$ , now if we prove that the operator $T$ is self-adjoint then we would prove that the set of all self-adjoint operators is closed.

So $T_{n} \rightarrow T$

To prove that $T$ is self-adjoint

Proof -

Let us consider $\|T -T^*\| = \|T - T_{n} + T_{n} - T_{n}^* + T_{n}^* - T^*\|$

By triangle inequality we have $\|T -T^*\| \leq \|T -T_{n}\| + \|T_{n} - T_{n}^*\| + \|T_{n}^* - T^*\|$

So we have now that $T_{n} = T_{n}^*$ as $T_{n}$ are self-adjoint operators so the middle term become zero.

so we are left with $\|T -T^*\|\leq \|T -T_{n}\| + \|T_{n}^* - T^*\|$.

Now the term $\|T - T_{n}\| \rightarrow 0$ but how to deal with the second term $\|T_{n}^* - T^*\| = \|T_{n} - T^*\|$?

As if we showed the RHS to be zero then $T= T^*$ implying $T$ is self-adjoint and hence the set of all self-adjoint operators are closed!

• Can you please clarify the question? What do you mean by "adjoint operator"? It looks like you are actually studying self-adjoint operators. Also, when you say closed, are you talking about operator norm topology? Are you working on a Banach space, Hilbert space, something else? – Nate Eldredge Nov 2 '17 at 13:40
• Yes,nice catch just did an edit! – BAYMAX Nov 2 '17 at 13:46
• An important equality is: $\|B \| = \|B^*\|$, for any bounded operator $B$ over a Hilbert space. – Ranc Nov 2 '17 at 13:57

We know that the map $S \mapsto S^*$ is an isometry so $\|S\| = \|S^*\|$ where $S$ is a bounded linear operator, so applying to $S = T_{n}^* - T^*$ then we get $\|T_{n}^* - T^*\| = \|T_n - T\|$ .
So in the last term we get, $\|T -T^*\| \leq 2 \|T_{n} - T\| \rightarrow 0$.
So $T = T^*$
A bounded operator $T$ is selfadjoint iff $\langle Tx,y\rangle = \langle x,Ty\rangle$ holds for all $x,y\in H$. If $\{ T_n \}$ is a sequence of selfadjoint operators that converges in the uniform, strong, or weak sense to a bounded operator $T$, then $T$ must be selfadjoint.
• Or, stated another way: For fixed $x,y$, the set of $T$ satisifying $\langle Tx,y\rangle = \langle x,Ty\rangle$ is a closed set. The set of self-adjoint operators is the intersection of all these closed sets, so is itself closed. – GEdgar Nov 2 '17 at 14:26