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Shadow Theory

Section 4 9 October 2026

A finite spectral window with a varying coherent input

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4 A finite spectral window with a varying coherent input

We next fix the complete self-adjoint complement AA. Its Hilbert space may contain continua and all quantum source coordinates. Let U\mathcal U be the input Hilbert space, B:U→HB:\mathcal U\to\mathcal H bounded, and a∈L2(0,T;U)a\in L^2(0,T;\mathcal U). The zero-initial response is

qB(t)=−i∫0te−iA(t−s)Ba(s) ds. q_B(t)=-i\int_0^t e^{-iA(t-s)}B a(s)\,ds . (4.1)

A spectral sector can be included by replacing BB with CBCB for a spectral projection CC of AA. The input may change direction arbitrarily in U\mathcal U.

Lemma 4.1 (An operator spectral measure on one interval)

Let I=[α,α+l)I=[\alpha,\alpha+l), l>0l>0, and suppose B∗EA(I)B≤mIUB^*E_A(I)B\le mI_{\mathcal U}. For v∈H1(I;U)v\in H^1(I;\mathcal U), the spectral integral TIv=∫IEA(dλ)Bv(λ)\mathcal T_Iv=\int_I E_A(d\lambda)Bv(\lambda) satisfies

∥TIv∥2≤2m{l−1∥v∥L2(I)2+l∥v′∥L2(I)2}. \|\mathcal T_Iv\|^2 \le2m\left\{l^{-1}\|v\|_{L^2(I)}^2+ l\|v'\|_{L^2(I)}^2\right\}. (4.2)
Proof

Let vˉ=l−1∫Iv\bar v=l^{-1}\int_Iv be the Bochner mean. The fundamental theorem for Hilbert-valued H1H^1 functions gives

v(λ)=vˉ+∫Ik(λ,ξ)v′(ξ) dξ,k(λ,ξ)=1ξ<λ−α+l−ξl,∣k∣≤1. v(\lambda)=\bar v+\int_I k(\lambda,\xi)v'(\xi)\,d\xi, \qquad k(\lambda,\xi)=1_{\xi<\lambda} -\frac{\alpha+l-\xi}{l},\qquad |k|\le1.

For every scalar bb supported in II with ∣b∣≤1|b|\le1,

∥b(A)EA(I)B∥2=∥B∗EA(I)∣b(A)∣2B∥≤m. \|b(A)E_A(I)B\|^2 =\|B^*E_A(I)|b(A)|^2B\|\le m.

Consequently the spectral integral has the precise order

TIv=EA(I)Bvˉ+∫Ik(A,ξ)EA(I)Bv′(ξ) dξ. \mathcal T_Iv=E_A(I)B\bar v+ \int_I k(A,\xi)E_A(I)Bv'(\xi)\,d\xi.

For smooth vv this follows by its displayed integral representation and bounded spectral calculus. The same formula defines a continuous extension to H1H^1. It gives

∥TIv∥≤m{l−1/2∥v∥L2(I)+l1/2∥v′∥L2(I)}. \|\mathcal T_Iv\| \le\sqrt m\left\{l^{-1/2}\|v\|_{L^2(I)} +l^{1/2}\|v'\|_{L^2(I)}\right\}.

Squaring and using (x+y)2≤2x2+2y2(x+y)^2\le2x^2+2y^2 proves (4.2). No common eigenvector of the input-valued function or simultaneous diagonalization of the operator measure was assumed.

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Theorem 4.2 (Finite-imaginary-part response window)

For η>0\eta>0 define the positive operator

Mη(E)=1πB∗η(A−E)2+η2B. M_\eta(E)=\frac1\pi B^* \frac{\eta}{(A-E)^2+\eta^2}B . (4.3)

Suppose Mη(E)≤sηIM_\eta(E)\le s_\eta I for all real EE, or at the centers of a partition into intervals of length 2η2\eta covering the relevant spectrum. Then, for 0≤t≤T0\le t\le T,

∥qB(t)∥2≤4π2sη(1+η2t2)∫0t∥a(s)∥2 ds. \|q_B(t)\|^2\le 4\pi^2s_\eta(1+\eta^2t^2) \int_0^t\|a(s)\|^2\,ds . (4.4)

Atoms, singular spectral measures and thresholds are allowed. The coefficient is an operator ceiling for the complete input space, not a scalar response for one incident column.

Proof

On Ij=[Ej−η,Ej+η)I_j=[E_j-\eta,E_j+\eta) the Poisson kernel in (4.3) is at least 1/(2πη)1/(2\pi\eta). Hence B∗EA(Ij)B≤2πηsηIB^*E_A(I_j)B\le2\pi\eta s_\eta I. Set

vt(λ)=∫0teiλ(s−t/2)a(s) ds. v_t(\lambda)=\int_0^t e^{i\lambda(s-t/2)}a(s)\,ds .

This Bochner Fourier transform is in H1(R;U)H^1(\mathbb R;\mathcal U), even though no derivative of aa was required. Hilbert-valued Plancherel gives

∥vt∥L2(R)2=2π∫0t∥a(s)∥2 ds,∥vt′∥L2(R)2=2π∫0t(s−t/2)2∥a(s)∥2 ds≤t24∥vt∥L2(R)2.\begin{aligned}\|v_t\|_{L^2(\mathbb R)}^2 &=2\pi\int_0^t\|a(s)\|^2\,ds,\\ \|v_t'\|_{L^2(\mathbb R)}^2 &=2\pi\int_0^t(s-t/2)^2\|a(s)\|^2\,ds \le\frac{t^2}{4}\|v_t\|_{L^2(\mathbb R)}^2. \end{aligned}

The full spectral integral of vtv_t differs from qB(t)q_B(t) only by −ie−iAt/2-i e^{-iAt/2}. This identity follows directly by Fubini from (4.1). The outputs TIjvt\mathcal T_{I_j}v_t lie in mutually orthogonal spectral subspaces. Apply Lemma 4.1 with l=2ηl=2\eta, m=2πηsηm=2\pi\eta s_\eta and sum:

∥qB(t)∥2≤2πsη∥vt∥22+8πη2sη∥vt′∥22. \|q_B(t)\|^2 \le 2\pi s_\eta\|v_t\|_2^2+ 8\pi\eta^2s_\eta\|v_t'\|_2^2 .

The Plancherel identities give (4.4). Orthogonality and monotone summation justify infinitely many intervals without a dimension or number-of-channels factor.

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The interval derivative term is substantive. A ceiling on B∗EA(I)BB^*E_A(I)B by itself cannot bound a spectral integral of a changing vector by a dimension-free multiple of sup⁡λ∥v(λ)∥2\sup_\lambda\|v(\lambda)\|^2. The time-centered Fourier representation is what supplies the derivative in this theorem. It is a derivative in spectral energy, not a time-regularity premise on the actual input.

For intervals of half-width δ\delta instead of η\eta, the same proof gives

∥qB(t)∥2≤2π2sηη2+δ2η(δ−1+δt2)∫0t∥a(s)∥2 ds. \|q_B(t)\|^2\le 2\pi^2s_\eta\frac{\eta^2+\delta^2}{\eta} (\delta^{-1}+\delta t^2) \int_0^t\|a(s)\|^2\,ds. (4.5)

Indeed the interval measure costs m=π(η2+δ2)sη/ηm=\pi(\eta^2+\delta^2)s_\eta/\eta and its length is 2δ2\delta. Thus the observation window can be chosen to match an earned response table.

If B=LF−1B=LF^{-1}, use a=Fpa=Fp with the actual input. For F=IF=I and a normalized full block evolution, ∫0t∥p(s)∥2ds≤t\int_0^t\|p(s)\|^2ds\le t; choosing η=1/T\eta=1/T gives the uniform ceiling 8π2s1/TT8\pi^2s_{1/T}T. If FF is dimensionless and L,AL,A have inverse-time units, sηs_\eta has inverse-time units, so this norm bound is dimensionless. An atom of response weight ww at λ0\lambda_0 has Mη(λ0)=w/(πη)M_\eta(\lambda_0)=w/(\pi\eta), whereas a resonant constant input can give response wt2wt^2. The theorem retains that pole through sηs_\eta; it does not convert it into a decay rate or a gap.

4.1 Unbounded form coupling: near response and far dressing

Theorem 4.3 (Coherent near/far response in the physical form)

Let AA be fixed self-adjoint, K=A+c≥IK=A+c\ge I, and F≥IF\ge I a fixed positive input graph. Assume

B=K−1/2LF−1:U⟶His bounded. B=K^{-1/2}LF^{-1}:\mathcal U\longrightarrow\mathcal H \quad\hbox{is bounded}.

Thus LF−1=K1/2BLF^{-1}=K^{1/2}B is a bounded map into V∗\mathcal V^*, possibly not into H\mathcal H. Assume Fp∈L2(0,T;U)Fp\in L^2(0,T;\mathcal U) for the near-response statement. For J0=[E0−Λ,E0+Λ]J_0=[E_0-\Lambda,E_0+\Lambda], Λ>0\Lambda>0, let C=1J0(A)C=1_{J_0}(A). For j=0,1j=0,1 set

Bj=K(j+1)/2CB,Mj,η(E)=1πB∗CKj+1η(A−E)2+η2CB. B_j=K^{(j+1)/2}CB,\qquad M_{j,\eta}(E)=\frac1\pi B^*C K^{j+1} \frac{\eta}{(A-E)^2+\eta^2}CB .

These BjB_j are bounded and Mj,ηM_{j,\eta} are positive operator spectral responses. If Mj,η(E)≤sj,ηIM_{j,\eta}(E)\le s_{j,\eta}I at the required centers, the zero-initial near response satisfies

∥Kj/2qnear(t)∥2≤4π2sj,η(1+η2t2)∫0t∥Fp(s)∥2 ds. \|K^{j/2}q_{\rm near}(t)\|^2 \le4\pi^2s_{j,\eta}(1+\eta^2t^2) \int_0^t\|Fp(s)\|^2\,ds . (4.6)

Let

Rj=K(j+1)/2(A−E0)−1(1−C)B. R_j=K^{(j+1)/2}(A-E_0)^{-1}(1-C)B .

If a0(s)=eiE0sFp(s)∈W1,1(0,t;U)a_0(s)=e^{iE_0s}Fp(s)\in W^{1,1}(0,t;\mathcal U), the far response satisfies

∥Kj/2qfar(t)∥≤∥Rj∥{∥a0(t)∥+∥a0(0)∥+∫0t∥a˙0(s)∥ ds},∥R0∥≤Λ+∣E0+c∣Λ∥B∥,∥R1∥≤(1+∣E0+c∣Λ)∥B∥.\begin{align}\|K^{j/2}q_{\rm far}(t)\| &\le\|R_j\| \left\{\|a_0(t)\|+\|a_0(0)\| +\int_0^t\|\dot a_0(s)\|\,ds\right\}, \tag{4.7}\\ \|R_0\|&\le \frac{\sqrt{\Lambda+|E_0+c|}}{\Lambda}\|B\|, &\|R_1\|&\le \left(1+\frac{|E_0+c|}{\Lambda}\right)\|B\|. \tag{4.8}\end{align}

An original q0∈Vq_0\in\mathcal V contributes the separate homogeneous term e−iAtq0e^{-iAt}q_0, with its original form norm. It is not part of (4.6).

Proof

The causal integral is first defined in V∗\mathcal V^*, where e−iAte^{-iAt} is a unitary group in the KK dual norm. On the bounded spectral interval, multiplication by Kj/2CK^{j/2}C turns its forcing into BjFpB_jFp. Apply Theorem 4.2 to this bounded coupling to obtain (4.6).

On the far sector put D=A−E0D=A-E_0. Commuting only functions of this same self-adjoint AA, integration by parts gives the exact identity

Kj/2qfar(t)=e−iE0t{e−iDtRja0(0)−Rja0(t)+∫0te−iD(t−s)Rja˙0(s) ds}.\begin{align}K^{j/2}q_{\rm far}(t) =e^{-iE_0t}\bigg\{ &e^{-iDt}R_j a_0(0)-R_j a_0(t)\notag\\ &+\int_0^t e^{-iD(t-s)}R_j\dot a_0(s)\,ds\bigg\}. \tag{4.9}\end{align}

For an unbounded coupling, prove it first on bounded spectral cutoffs. The bounds below pass it to the form-dual causal solution and also show that its right side is a physical Kj/2K^{j/2} vector. Taking norms proves (4.7). The two displayed endpoints are the virtual dressings; neither can be dropped.

For x=∣λ−E0∣≥Λx=|\lambda-E_0|\ge\Lambda and λ∈σ(A)\lambda\in\sigma(A), positivity and the triangle inequality give 0<λ+c≤x+∣E0+c∣0<\lambda+c\le x+|E_0+c|. Therefore

λ+c∣λ−E0∣≤Λ+∣E0+c∣Λ,λ+c∣λ−E0∣≤1+∣E0+c∣Λ. \frac{\sqrt{\lambda+c}}{|\lambda-E_0|} \le\frac{\sqrt{\Lambda+|E_0+c|}}{\Lambda}, \qquad \frac{\lambda+c}{|\lambda-E_0|} \le1+\frac{|E_0+c|}{\Lambda}.

The spectral theorem proves (4.8) and the limiting integration-by-parts assertion. The homogeneous term follows by linearity; it has unchanged KK norm because K=A+cK=A+c commutes with AA.

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One may use M1,η≤kJ0M0,ηM_{1,\eta}\le k_{J_0}M_{0,\eta}, where kJ0=sup⁡λ∈J0∩σ(A)(λ+c)k_{J_0}=\sup_{\lambda\in J_0\cap\sigma(A)}(\lambda+c), if that additional factor is charged. A smaller first-form response coefficient is a separate spectral calculation. For several coherent couplings L(t)=∑αlα(t)LαL(t)=\sum_\alpha l_\alpha(t)L_\alpha, apply the theorem to the stacked bounded map with input (l1Fp,…,lmFp)(l_1Fp,\ldots,l_mFp). Its full operator measure retains all off-diagonal responses. Summing independent scalar channel rates would be a different statement.

The near estimate requires an L2L^2 input but no input time derivative. The far estimate requires the displayed derivative and endpoint dressings. Neither frozen spectral statement applies automatically to a changing A(t)A(t). One must instead use Theorem 3.3, or prove a comparison with a fixed parent and charge its actual forcing and form-dual derivative.