APPROXIMATION FROM SHIFT-INVARIANT SUBSPACES OF L(2(R(D))

A complete characterization is given of closed shift-invariant subspac es of L2(R(d)) which provide a specified approximation order. When suc h a space is principal (i.e., generated by a single function), then th is characterization is in terms of the Fourier transform of the genera tor. As a special case, we obtain the classical Strang-Fix conditions, but without requiring the generating function to decay at infinity. T he approximation order of a general closed shift-invariant space is sh own to be already realized by a specifiable principal subspace.