Resolvent convergence and spectral approximations of sequences of self-adjoint subspaces

This paper studies resolvent convergence and spectral approximations of sequences of self-adjoint subspaces (relations) in complex Hilbert spaces. Concepts of strong resolvent convergence, norm resolvent convergence, spectral inclusion, and spectral exactness are introduced. Fundamental properties of resolvents of subspaces are studied. By applying these properties, several equivalent and sufficient conditions for convergence of sequences of self-adjoint subspaces in the strong and norm resolvent senses are given. It is shown that a sequence of self-adjoint subspaces is spectrally inclusive under the strong resolvent convergence and spectrally exact under the norm resolvent convergence. A sufficient condition is given for spectral exactness of a sequence of self-adjoint subspaces in an open interval lacking essential spectral points. In addition, criteria are established for spectral inclusion and spectral exactness of a sequence of self-adjoint subspaces that are defined on proper closed subspaces. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.