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Minlos's theorem

Minlos's theorem turns a cylindrical measure on the dual of a nuclear space into a Radon measure when its Fourier transform is continuous.

Version
v1 · 2026-09-28 · History
Domain-specific #
7697
Origin domain
Topological Vector Spaces

Core Idea

Minlos's theorem is an extension theorem for measures on infinite-dimensional topological vector spaces: a cylindrical measure on the continuous dual of a nuclear space extends to a Radon measure when its Fourier transform is continuous. A cylindrical measure initially assigns compatible finite-dimensional distributions to cylinder sets, while the conclusion supplies an actual measure with the regularity needed for measure-theoretic probability on the dual space. The theorem's force lies in the conjunction of its hypotheses.

Scope of Application

Minlos's theorem applies as an extension result when the proposed carrier is the continuous dual of a nuclear topological vector space, the starting data form a cylindrical measure with compatible finite-dimensional projections, and its Fourier transform is continuous in the required topology. - Topological vector-space probability. The theorem turns cylinder-set assignments on a nuclear space's continuous dual into a Radon measure under the stated continuity condition. - Nuclear-space analysis. Nuclearity is checked as a load-bearing property of the underlying space rather than inferred from infinite dimensionality alone. - Cylindrical-measure theory. Compatible assignments on finite-dimensional cylinders supply the input before countable additivity on the full dual has been secured. - Infinite-dimensional measure construction. The conclusion provides an actual regular measure on the continuous dual where finite-dimensional consistency alone is insufficient.

Clarity

Minlos’s theorem separates compatible finite-dimensional distributional data from an actual regular measure on an infinite-dimensional dual. A cylindrical measure may assign every cylinder set consistently without yet possessing the countable additivity and Radon regularity needed for ordinary probability on the full space. The extension conclusion is therefore substantive rather than a change in terminology.

Manages Complexity

An infinite-dimensional dual does not admit the same automatic passage from finite-dimensional distributions to a regular measure that one expects in familiar Euclidean spaces. A cylindrical measure organizes its many finite-dimensional projections, and the Fourier transform summarizes those assignments as a functional on the underlying space. The compression stops at existence and Radon regularity under the stated topology.

Abstract Reasoning

From a cylindrical measure's compatible finite-dimensional assignments to a genuine probability measure on an infinite-dimensional dual, the analyst first identifies the underlying topological vector space and its continuous dual, then tests nuclearity and continuity of the Fourier transform in the required topology. When those hypotheses hold, Minlos's theorem licenses the conclusion that the cylinder data extend to a Radon measure. Counterfactual removal of either load-bearing hypothesis marks the boundary.

Knowledge Transfer

Within infinite-dimensional probability, Minlos’s theorem transfers literally across nuclear spaces and cylindrical measures when the precise topology, continuous dual, compatible finite-dimensional assignments, and Fourier-transform continuity meet the theorem’s hypotheses. The cargo that carries intact is nuclearity, cylindrical consistency, characteristic functional, continuity, and extension to a Radon measure. This is (C) a formal extension theorem under its stated mathematical preconditions.

Relationships to Other Abstractions

Local relationship map for Minlos's theoremParents appear above the current abstraction, mutual partners to the right, and children below. Node labels state whether each abstraction is prime or domain-specific; colors identify relation types.Minlos's theoremDOMAINPrime abstraction: Necessity and Sufficiency — is a kind ofNecessity andSufficiencyPRIME

Current abstraction Minlos's theorem Domain-specific

Parents (1) — more general patterns this builds on

  • Minlos's theorem is a kind of Necessity and Sufficiency Prime

    The focal outcome is existence of a Radon extension on the continuous dual; the candidate condition is cylindrical measure data whose characteristic functional is continuous in the required topology; and the declared universe is the dual of a nuclear topological vector space.

Hierarchy path (1) — routes to 1 parentless root

Neighborhood in Abstraction Space

Minlos's theorem sits in a sparse region of the domain-specific corpus (76th percentile for distinctiveness): few abstractions share its structure, so a faithful description tends to retrieve it precisely.

Family — Foundations of Probability & Inference (29 abstractions)

Nearest neighbors

Computed from structural-signature embeddings · 2026-10-08