What is the meaning of tending uniformly to infinity in Harnack's Principle?

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In summary, the Ahlfors version of this theorem states that a sequence of harmonic functions {Un} will either tend to infinity uniformly on compact subsets or converge to a harmonic limit function uniformly on compact sets. Uniform convergence towards infinity means that for any given radius, there exists a point at which the function's absolute value exceeds that radius for all terms in the sequence. This is different from point-wise convergence, where each individual term must exceed the radius at some point. Additionally, constant functions are considered to converge uniformly if they converge in some way.
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redrzewski
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Ahlfors version of this theorem says that a sequence of harmonic functions {Un} tends UNIFORMLY to infinity on compact subsets, or tends to a harmonic limit function uniformly on compact sets.

Can someone please clarify what tending uniformly to infinity means?

In particular, it seems like a set of harmonic {Un} where Uk = k (such that each function is constant) tends non-uniformly to infinity.

So I must be missing something somewhere.

thanks
 
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[itex]f_n:K\to\mathbb{C}[/itex] ([itex]n=1,2,3\ldots[/itex]) converges towards infinity uniformly, if for all [itex]R>0[/itex] there exists [itex]N\in\mathbb{N}[/itex] such that [itex]|f_n(z)|>R[/itex] for all [itex]z\in K[/itex] and [itex]n\geq N[/itex].

Simply extend [itex][0,\infty[[/itex] to [itex][0,\infty][/itex] (with topology homeomorphic with [itex][0,1][/itex]), and threat [itex]\infty[/itex] as a constant so that a sequence of functions can converge uniformly towards the corresponding constant function.

In point-wise convergence to infinity would mean that for each [itex]z\in K[/itex] and [itex]R>0[/itex] there exists [itex]N\in\mathbb{N}[/itex] such that [itex]|f_n(z)|>R[/itex] for all [itex]n\geq N[/itex].

Constant functions surely converge uniformly if they converge somehow.
 
  • #3
Thanks. That definition clears things up greatly.
 

FAQ: What is the meaning of tending uniformly to infinity in Harnack's Principle?

What is Harnack's Principle?

Harnack's Principle is a mathematical principle that states that if a series of functions are uniformly bounded and converge pointwise on a given set, then their limit function is also uniformly bounded on that set.

Who was Harnack and why is this principle named after him?

Harnack's Principle is named after German mathematician Axel Harnack, who first described the principle in the late 19th century. Harnack was a renowned mathematician and an influential figure in the development of complex analysis.

What are the applications of Harnack's Principle?

Harnack's Principle has various applications in mathematics, particularly in complex analysis, potential theory, and harmonic analysis. It is also used in other fields, such as physics, engineering, and economics.

Can Harnack's Principle be generalized to higher dimensions?

Yes, Harnack's Principle can be generalized to higher dimensions. In fact, it has been extended to arbitrary dimensions and has been proven to hold for functions defined on more general spaces, such as metric spaces.

Are there any limitations or exceptions to Harnack's Principle?

While Harnack's Principle is a powerful tool in mathematics, there are certain limitations and exceptions to its applicability. For example, it does not hold for non-uniformly continuous functions and may not always apply to unbounded sets or functions with singularities.

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