Measure space

2020 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary: 28Axx [MSN][ZBL]

$\newcommand{\Om}{\Omega} \newcommand{\A}{\mathcal A} \newcommand{\B}{\mathcal B} \newcommand{\M}{\mathcal M} $ A measure space is a triple $(X,\A,\mu)$ where $X$ is a set, $\A$ a σ-algebra of its subsets, and $\mu:\A\to[0,+\infty]$ a measure. Thus, a measure space consists of a measurable space and a measure. The notation $(X,\A,\mu)$ is often shortened to $(X,\mu)$ and one says that $\mu$ is a measure on $X$; sometimes the notation is shortened to $X$.

Basic notions and constructions

Inner measure $\mu_*$ and outer measure $\mu^*$ are defined for all subsets $A\subset X$ by

$ \mu_*(A) = \max\{\mu(B):B\in\A,B\subset A\}\,,\quad \mu^*(A) = \min\{\mu(B):B\in\A,B\supset A\}\,;$

$A$ is called a null (or negligible) set if $\mu^*(A)=0$; in this case the complement $X\setminus A$ is called a set of full measure, and one says that $x\notin A$ for almost all $x$ (in other words, almost everywhere). Two sets $A,B\subset X$ are almost equal (or equal mod 0) if $(x\in A)\iff(x\in B)$ for almost all $x$ (in other words, $A\setminus B$ and $B\setminus A$ are negligible). Two functions $f,g:X\to Y$ are almost equal (or equal mod 0, or equivalent) if they are equal almost everywhere.

The product of two (or finitely many) measure spaces is a well-defined measure space.

A probability space is a measure space $(X,\A,\mu)$ satisfying $\mu(X)=1$. The product of infinitely many probability spaces is a well-defined probability space. (See [D, Sect. 8.2], [B, Sect. 3.5], [P, Sect. 4.8].)

Some classes of measure spaces

Let $(X,\A,\mu)$ be a measure space.

Both $(X,\A,\mu)$ and $\mu$ are called complete if $\A_\mu=\A$ or, equivalently, if $\A$ contains all null sets. The completion of $(X,\A,\mu)$ is the complete measure space $(X,\A_\mu,\tilde\mu)$ where $\tilde\mu(A)=\mu(B)$ whenever $A\in\A_\mu$ is almost equal to $B\in\A$.

If $X$ is a set of finite measure, that is, $\mu(X)<\infty$, then $\mu$, and sometimes also $(X,\A,\mu)$, is called finite.

Both $(X,\A,\mu)$ and $\mu$ are called σ-finite if $X$ can be split into countably many sets of finite measure, that is, $X=A_1\cup A_2\cup\dots$ for some $A_n\in\A$ such that $\forall n \;\; \mu(A_n)<\infty$. (Finite measures are also σ-finite.)

Let $\mu(X)<\infty$. Both $(X,\A,\mu)$ and $\mu$ are called perfect if for every $\mu$-measurable (or equivalently, for every $\A$-measurable) function $f:X\to\R$ the image $f(X)$ contains a Borel (or equivalently, σ-compact) subset $B$ whose preimage $f^{-1}(B)$ is of full measure. (See [B, Sect. 7.5].)

For standard probability spaces see the separate article. Standard measure spaces are defined similarly. They are perfect, and admit a complete classification (unlike perfect measure spaces in general).

Examples. The real line with Lebesgue measure on Borel σ-algebra is an incomplete σ-finite measure space. The real line with Lebesgue measure on Lebesgue σ-algebra is a complete σ-finite measure space. The unit interval $(0,1)$ with Lebesgue measure on Lebesgue σ-algebra is a standard probability space. The product of countably many copies of this space is standard; for uncountably many factors the product is perfect but nonstandard. The one-dimensional Hausdorff measure on the plane is not σ-finite.

Let $\mu(X)<\infty$. An atom of $(X,\A,\mu)$ (and of $\mu$) is a non-negligible measurable set $A\subset X$ such that every measurable subset of $A$ is either negligible or almost equal to $A$. Both $(X,\A,\mu)$ and $\mu$ are called atomless or nonatomic if they have no atoms; on the other hand, they are called purely atomic if there exists a partition of $X$ into atoms. (See [B, Sect. 1.12(iii)], [D, Sect. 3.5], [M, Sect. 6.4.1].)

If $x\in X$ is such that the single-point set $\{x\}$ is a non-negligible measurable set then clearly $\{x\}$ is an atom. If $(X,\A,\mu)$ is standard then every atom is almost equal to some $\{x\}$, but in general it is not.

Let $\{x\}$ be measurable for all $x\in X$. Both $(X,\A,\mu)$ and $\mu$ are called continuous if $\mu(\{x\})=0$ for all $x\in X$; on the other hand, they are called discrete if $X$ is almost equal to some finite or countable set. (See [C, Sect. 1.2], [K, Sect. 17.A].) A discrete space cannot be atomless (unless $\mu(X)=0$), but a purely atomic (nonstandard) space can be continuous. (See [B, Sect. 7.14(v)].)

On terminology

The phrase "separable measure space" is quite ambiguous. Some authors call $(X,\A,\mu)$ separable when the Hilbert space $L_2(X,\A,\mu)$ is separable; equivalently, when $\A$ contains a countably generated sub-σ-algebra $\B$ such that every set of $\A$ is almost equal to some set of $\B$. (See [B, Sect. 7.14(iv)], [M, Sect. IV.6.0].) But in [I, Sect. 3.1] it is required instead that $\B$ separates points and $(X,\A,\mu)$ is complete, while in [H] all these conditions are imposed together.

According to [M, Sect. I.3], all measure spaces are σ-finite (by definition).

References

[T]	Terence Tao, "An introduction to measure theory", AMS (2011).   MR2827917   Zbl 05952932
[C]	Donald L. Cohn, "Measure theory", Birkhäuser (1993).   MR1454121   Zbl 0860.28001
[P]	David Pollard, "A user's guide to measure theoretic probability", Cambridge (2002).   MR1873379   Zbl 0992.60001
[B]	V.I. Bogachev, "Measure theory", Springer-Verlag (2007).   MR2267655  Zbl 1120.28001
[D]	Richard M. Dudley, "Real analysis and probability", Wadsworth&Brooks/Cole (1989).   MR0982264   Zbl 0686.60001
[K]	Alexander S. Kechris, "Classical descriptive set theory", Springer-Verlag (1995).   MR1321597   Zbl 0819.04002
[M]	Paul Malliavin, "Integration and probability", Springer-Verlag (1995).   MR1335234   Zbl 0874.28001
[I]	Kiyosi Itô, "Introduction to probability theory", Cambridge (1984).   MR0777504   Zbl 0545.60001
[H]	Jean Haezendonck, "Abstract Lebesgue-Rohlin spaces", Bull. Soc. Math. de Belgique 25 (1973), 243–258.   MR0335733   Zbl 0308.60006