# Example of normal operator on infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces

Let $\mathcal{B}(F)$ the algebra of all bounded linear operators on an infinite-dimensional complex Hilbert space $F$.

Definition Let $A\in\mathcal{B}(F)$. $A$ is said to be normal if $$AA^*=A^*A.$$

I look for an example of normal operator on an infinite-dimensional complex Hilbert space $F$ which is not self-adjoint.

• Do you know an example on $\mathbb{C}^n$ for some $n$? Because then you can just embed $\mathbb{C}^n$ into $\ell^2(\mathbb{C})$ in the obvious way and use the map on $\ell^2$ induced by this example. – Rhys Steele Mar 26 '18 at 15:48
• @Schüler Have you made any effort to solve this problem yourself? It's clear from the speed of your reply that you didn't think about my hint and (as Zachary Selk notes) you could definitely google this question. If you aren't willing to put effort into solving the problem, I am certainly not willing to put effort into writing a solution for you. – Rhys Steele Mar 26 '18 at 15:56

A unitary operator is not generally selfadjoint. For example, consider $T : L^2[-\pi,\pi]\rightarrow L^2[-\pi,\pi]$ defined by $$(Tf)(\theta) = e^{i\theta}f(\theta)$$ The spectrum of $T$ is the unit circle in the complex plane. And $T^*T=TT^*=I$ because $(T^*f)(\theta) = e^{-i\theta}f(\theta)$.
The fundamental building blocks for selfadjoint and normal operators are multiplications on some $L^2$ space. So they are similar in many ways, and the Spectral Theorem applies to both.
For another example: Let $\mu$ be a finite Lebesgue measure on the complex plane with support $S\subset \mathbb{C}$, where $S$ is a bounded set. Let $T : L^2(S,\mu)\rightarrow L^2(S,\mu)$ be defined by $(Tf)(z)=zf(z)$. Then $T$ is a bounded normal operator with spectrum $S$.
• @Schüler Let $(Tf)(z) = zf(z)$, where $H=L^2(\Omega)$ and $\Omega$ is a bounded open region of the complex plane. Then $T$ is normal, and has spectrum equal to the closure of $\Omega$. – DisintegratingByParts Mar 27 '18 at 14:43
Consider $\ell^2(\mathbb C) = \{ (z_n)_{n\in\mathbb Z} : \sum_{n\in Z}|z_n|^2<\infty\}$ and the right-shift operator $T:\ell^2(\mathbb C)\to\ell^2(\mathbb C)$ which satisfies $T((z_n)_{n\in\mathbb Z}) = (z_{n+1})_{n\in\mathbb Z}$. Then for $z,w\in\ell^2(\mathbb C)$, $$\langle Tz,w\rangle = \sum_{n\in\mathbb Z} z_{n+1}\overline w_n = \sum_{n\in\mathbb Z} z_n\overline w_{n-1} = \langle z,T^\star w\rangle,$$ that is, $T^\star$ is the left-shift operator which maps $(z_n)_{n\in\mathbb N}$ to $(z_{n-1})_{n\in\mathbb N}$. Clearly $T\ne T^\star$, but by symmetry $$TT^{\star}z = T^\star Tz = z,$$ so that $TT^\star = T^\star T=I$. Indeed, $T$ is a unitary (and hence normal) operator which is not self-adjoint.