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Consider a topological vector space $X$. Suppose $S$ is a subset of $X$. Under what condition, the following implication is true?

"If $\{s_n\}\subset S$ converges to $s\in X$, then $s\in S$. " $\Rightarrow$ "$S$ is closed."

I cannot find a rigorous reference for this.

In particular, consider the space of finite signed measure $\mathscr{M}(\Omega)$ equipped with weak* topology, where $\Omega$ is a compact subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$. Suppose $S\subset\mathscr{P}(\Omega)$ is a subset of probability measures. Suppose for every sequence $\{s_n\}\subset S$ that converges to some $s$, we have $s\in S$. Can we conclude $S$ is weak* closed?

Thank you!

Jay
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1 Answers1

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The first part of the question has little to do with vector spaces:

A subset $A$ of a complete metric space $(X,d)$ is closed if and only if it is complete.

This is a standard exercise (solution in this question). On (non-metrizable) topological spaces, say that $A$ is sequentially closed if it contains the limits of all its sequences.

Sequentially closed sets need not be closed

(see here for a standard counterexample)

Additionally,

The sequential closure of $A$, i.e. the set of all limit points of sequences in $A$, need not be sequentially closed

(see here).

Assuming that $X$ is additionally a topological vector space is not of any help:

there exist weakly sequentially closed subsets of a ($\infty$-dim) Hilbert space that are not weakly closed.

(see here).

Concerning the second part of the question, the answer is yes: we can conclude that $S$ is closed since $\mathscr P(\Omega)$ is metrizable. This is a very particular case of the following fact. A topological space $(X,\tau)$ is Polish if there exists a distance $d$ metrizing $\tau$ and additionally such that $(X,d)$ is complete and separable. Endow $\mathscr P(X)$ with the weak topology (induced by the duality with the space $\mathcal C_b(X)$ of continuous bounded functions on $X$). Then

$(X,\tau)$ is Polish if and only if $\mathscr P(X)$ is Polish.

(see e.g. [A, Thm. 8.9.4])

In the case of $\Omega$ compact in $\mathbb R^n$, the weak topology on $\mathscr P(\Omega)$ coincides with the weak* topology since $\mathcal C_b(\Omega)=\mathcal C_c(\Omega)=\mathcal C(\Omega)$. As a consequence, since $\Omega$ is compact (hence complete and separable, thus Polish), $\mathscr{P}(\Omega)$ is Polish (in particular metrizable), and therefore the conclusion follows from the first part of the answer.

Trivia: if Analyst Alice writes "$\mathbb P(\Omega)$" Probabilist Peggy will read "1".

[A] Bogachev, V.I., Measure Theory, vol. II

AlephBeth
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