Formalization and Closedness of Finite Dimensional Subspaces

This article presents a Coq formalization of finite dimensional subspaces of Hilbert spaces: we prove that such subspaces are closed submodules. This result is one of the basic blocks to prove the correctness of the finite element method which approaches the solution of partial differential equations. The exact solution is valued in a continuous volume (Hilbert space) while the approximation is valued in a mesh (finite dimensional subspace) which fits the shape of the volume. When applied to a submodule which is finite dimensional, Lax--Milgram Theorem and Céa Lemma ensure the finite element method is sufficiently precise. We rely on filters as basis for topological reasoning: filters provide a very general framework to express local properties and limits. However, most such mathematical literature does not rely on filters, making our Coq formalization unusual.