In mathematics, in the area of functional analysis and operator theory, the Volterra operator, named after Vito Volterra, is a bounded linear operator on the space L²[0,1] of complex-valued square-integrable functions on the interval [0,1]. On the subspace C[0,1] of continuous functions it represents indefinite integration. It is the operator corresponding to the Volterra integral equations.

Definition

The Volterra operator, V, may be defined for a function f ∈ L²[0,1] and a value t ∈ [0,1], as

${\displaystyle V(f)(t)=\int _{0}^{t}f(s)\,ds.}$

Properties

• V is a bounded linear operator between Hilbert spaces, with Hermitian adjoint
  $${\displaystyle V^{*}(f)(t)=\int _{t}^{1}f(s)\,ds.}$$

  
• V is a Hilbert–Schmidt operator, hence in particular is compact.^[1]
• V has no eigenvalues and therefore, by the spectral theory of compact operators, its spectrum σ(V) = {0}.^[1]
• V is a quasinilpotent operator (that is, the spectral radius, ρ(V), is zero), but it is not nilpotent.
• The operator norm of V is exactly ||V|| = ²⁄_π.^[1]