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Suppose $f$ is a bounded continuous function on $[0,\infty)$ such that $\int_0^\infty f(t) \exp(-xt) \: dt \rightarrow 0$ as $x \rightarrow 0^+$. Does it follow that $\int_0^\infty f(t) \exp(-xt^2) \: dt \rightarrow 0$ as $x \rightarrow 0^+$? Is the reverse implication true?

I suspect that the answer is "no" in both cases, so here's my real (although vague) question: is there a notion of regularity for $f$ (along the lines of the notion of almost-periodicity) such that the two limit-assertions imply each other when $f$ is regular?

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1 Answer 1

up vote 3 down vote accepted

There exists a Tauberian theorem of the following form. Suppose that $a\in L^1_{loc}(\mathbb{R}_{>0})$ and for any $x>0$ the integral

$$ G(x):=\int_0^\infty e^{-x^2t^2} a(t) dt $$

exists and satisfies

$$ \sup_{x>0}|G(x)|<\infty, $$


$$ \lim_{x\searrow 0} G(x) = A\in\mathbb{R}. $$

The function $G(x)$ is called the Gauss-Weierstrass transform of $a$. Suppose also that the integrals

$$ L(x)=\int_0^\infty e^{-xt} a(t) dt $$

exist for any $x>0$. Then

$$ \lim_{x\searrow 0} L(x)= A= \lim_{x\searrow 0} G(x).$$

Let us point out that if $a\in L^1(\mathbb{R}_{>0})$, then the integrals $G(x)$ and $L(x)$ exist for any $x$ and

$$ A=\int_0^\infty a(t) dt. $$

For a proof see Chap.I, Sec 14, Thm. 21 of the book

S. Bochner, K. Chandrasekharan: Fourier Transforms, Ann. Math. Studies, vol. 19, Princeton University Press, 1949.

Addendum It seems that one of Wiener's Tauberian theorem. (see J. Korevaar: Tauberian Theory. A Century of developments, Theorem 5.1, Chap II).

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@Liviu: Thanks, but I am confused. What is $s$? Also, does $L_{loc}^1$ mean locally integrable in the sense of being integrable over every finite interval, or is some sort of uniformity required? –  James Propp Mar 3 '13 at 4:34
That $s$ was mant to be an $x$ I fixed the typo. $L^1_{loc}$ means integrability on compacts, no uniformity assumed. –  Liviu Nicolaescu Mar 3 '13 at 10:24
Looks like your addendum (about Wiener) got truncated or something (it doesn't appear to be a complete sentence). Can you re-edit it? Thanks! –  James Propp Feb 14 at 14:26
@ James I don't remember what I was attempting to say almost a year ago. Perhaps the details are in the reference I gave. I am on the road and I cannot access the book. –  Liviu Nicolaescu Feb 15 at 13:30

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