Exact meaning of compactly supported smooth function – support can be any measurable compact set

real-analysissmooth-functions

Let $C_c^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n)$ be the space of compactly supported smooth function on $\mathbb{R}^n$.

Here, I am now a bit curious about the precise meaning of support and smooth.

For example, any measurable $B \subset \mathbb{R}^n$ of finite measure can be approximated by compact subsets.

Let's say $K_m \subset B$ is compact and $\mu(B-K_m) < \frac{1}{m}$ for each $m \in \mathbb{N}$, where $\mu$ is the $n$-dimensional Lebesgue measure.

Then, I remember vaguely that there exists a smooth function $\phi_m : \mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}$ supported on $K_m$ for each $m \in \mathbb{N}$.

However, $K_m$ can be quite arbitrary and even discrete. In all such cases, how does one define smoothness?

Could anyone please clarify for me?

Best Answer

Based on the comments above, it seems you're misparsing "smooth function with compact support" as "function with compact support which is smooth on its support." This is not what it means: the requirements for $f:\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ to be in $C_c^\infty(\mathbb{R}^n)$ are precisely that

  • $f$ be smooth in the usual $\mathbb{R}^n$-sense, and

  • $cl(\{x:f(x)\not=0\})$ be compact (also in the usual $\mathbb{R}^n$-sense).

In particular, the support of such an $f$ can never be discrete since for any smooth (or even continuous) $f:\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ the set $\{x: f(x)\not=0\}$ will be open. In order to be the support of a continuous (let alone smooth) function, a compact set $K$ must satisfy $$K=cl(int(K)).$$ It's a good exercise to check whether this necessary condition is also sufficient.

Related Question