For a given pcf self-similar fractal, a certain network (weighted graph) is
constructed whose ideal boundary is (homeomorphic to) the fractal. This
construction is the first representation of a connected self-similar fractal as
the boundary of a reversible Markov chain (i.e., a simple random walk on a
network). The boundary construction is effected using certain functions of
finite energy which behave like bump functions on the boundary. The random walk
is shown to converge to the boundary almost surely, with respect to the
standard measure on its trajectory space.
In this appendix to the authors' paper [arXiv:1006.3807], we give conditions
which characterize the Minkowski measurability of a certain class of
self-similar tilings and (self-similar sets). Under appropriate hypotheses,
self-similar tilings with simple generators (more precisely, monophase
generators) are shown to be Minkowski measurable if and only if the associated
scaling zeta function is of nonlattice type.
We study Laplace operators on infinite networks $(G,c)$, and their
self-adjoint extensions. We consider the Laplacian $\Delta$ as on operator on
$\ell^2(G)$ and as an operator on the Hilbert space $\mathcal{H}_\mathcal{E}$
of finite energy functions on $G$, focusing on the case when $\Delta$ is
unbounded. It is known that $\Delta$ is essentially self-adjoint on its natural
domain in $\ell^2(G)$, but that it is \emph{not} essentially self-adjoint on
its natural domain in $\mathcal{H}_\mathcal{E}$.
This paper studies the "energy space" $\mathcal{H}_{\mathcal{E}}$ (the
Hilbert space of functions of finite energy, aka the Dirichlet-finite
functions) on an infinite network (weighted connected graph), from the point of
view of the multiplication operators $M_f$ associated to functions $f$ on the
network. We show that the multiplication operators $M_f$ are not Hermitian
unless $f$ is constant, and compute the adjoint $M_f^\star$ in terms of a
reproducing kernel for $\mathcal{H}_{\mathcal{E}}$.
A resistance network is a weighted graph $(G,c)$ with intrinsic (resistance)
metric $R$. We embed the resistance network into the Hilbert space ${\mathcal
H}_{\mathcal E}$ of functions of finite energy. We use the resistance metric to
study ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$, and vice versa and show that the embedded
images of the vertices $\{v_x\}$ form a reproducing kernel for this Hilbert
space.
Motivated by potential theory on discrete spaces, we study a family of
unbounded Hermitian operators in Hilbert space which generalize the usual
graph-theoretic discrete Laplacian. These operators are discrete analogues of
the classical conformal Laplacians and Hamiltonians from statistical mechanics.
For an infinite discrete set $X$, we consider operators acting on Hilbert
spaces of functions on $X$, and their representations as infinite matrices; the
focus is on $\ell^2(X)$, and the energy space $\mathcal{H}_{\mathcal E}$.
A resistance network is a connected graph $(G,c)$. The conductance function
$c_{xy}$ weights the edges, which are then interpreted as conductors of
possibly varying strengths. The Dirichlet energy form $\mathcal E$ produces a
Hilbert space structure ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal E}$ on the space of functions
of finite energy.
A resistance network is a connected graph $(G,c)$. The conductance function
$c_{xy}$ weights the edges, which are then interpreted as conductors of
possibly varying strengths. The Dirichlet energy form $\mathcal E$ produces a
Hilbert space structure (which we call the energy space ${\mathcal H}_{\mathcal
E}$) on the space of functions of finite energy.