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The Daily Insight

What is a trace of an operator?

Author

Eleanor Gray

Updated on May 01, 2026

What is a trace of an operator?

In linear algebra, the trace of a square matrix A, denoted tr(A), is defined to be the sum of elements on the main diagonal (from the upper left to the lower right) of A. This characterization can be used to define the trace of a linear operator in general. The trace is only defined for a square matrix (n × n).

Are trace class operators compact?

In mathematics, a trace-class operator is a compact operator for which a trace may be defined, such that the trace is finite and independent of the choice of basis.

Are Hilbert Schmidt operators compact?

Theorem Hilbert-Schmidt operators are compact. Proof. Each truncated TN has finite dimensional range, hence is compact. TN − TB(H) → 0, and compact operators are closed in the operator norm topology.

Is the identity a compact operator?

By Riesz’s lemma, the identity operator is a compact operator if and only if the space is finite-dimensional.

What is trace norm?

The trace norm ∥ρ∥1 of a matrix ρ is the sum of the singular values of ρ. The singular values are the roots of the eigenvalues of ρρ † . The trace norm is the a special case p=1 of the class of Schatten p-norms. …

Is a compact operator bounded?

We note that every compact operator T is bounded. Indeed, if T = ∞, then there exists a sequence (xn)n≥1 such that xn ≤ 1 and Txn →∞.

What is the adjoint of an operator?

In mathematics, the adjoint of an operator is a generalization of the notion of the Hermitian conjugate of a complex matrix to linear operators on complex Hilbert spaces. In this article the adjoint of a linear operator M will be indicated by M∗, as is common in mathematics.

How do you prove an operator is compact?

A linear operator T : X → Y between normed spaces X and Y is called a compact linear operator if for every bounded sequence (xn)n≥1 in X, the sequence (Txn)n≥1 has a convergent subsequence.

Are all positive operators self-adjoint?

Definition Every positive operator A on a Hilbert space is self-adjoint. More generally: An element A of an (abstract) C*-algebra is called positive if it is self-adjoint and its spectrum is contained in [0,∞).

What is a trace in math?

In mathematics, a trace is a property of a matrix and of a linear operator on a vector space.