Kakutani's theorem (measure theory) explained

\mu

is equivalent to

\mu

(only when the translation vector lies in the Cameron–Martin space of

\mu

), or whether a dilation of

\mu

is equivalent to

\mu

(only when the absolute value of the dilation factor is 1, which is part of the Feldman–Hájek theorem).

Statement of the theorem

For each

n\inN

, let

\mun

and

\nun

be measures on the real line

R

, and let

\mu=otimesn\mun

and

\nu=otimesn\nun

be the corresponding product measures on

Rinfty

. Suppose also that, for each

n\inN

,

\mun

and

\nun

are equivalent (i.e. have the same null sets). Then either

\mu

and

\nu

are equivalent, or else they are mutually singular. Furthermore, equivalence holds precisely when the infinite product

\prodn\intR\sqrt{

d\mun
d\nun

}d\nun

has a nonzero limit; or, equivalently, when the infinite series

\sumnlog\intR\sqrt{

d\mun
d\nun

}d\nun

converges.

References